This study was designed to assess jury decision-making for 289 participants reading a medical malpractice vignette as a function of participant type (undergraduate students or jury panelists), punitive damage award apportionment (none, half, or all to the plaintiff), and compensation previously assigned to the plaintiff (low, medium, or high). We found several sample differences. Overall, jury panelists awarded more money for punitive damages. Jury panelists were also more affected by compensatory-relevant information when making punitive decisions, including assigning punitive damages and rating the fairness of the traditional apportionment scheme, where the plaintiff receives all of the money. Compared with students, more jury panelists were in favor of the plaintiff receiving the entire punitive award. Most students endorsed split recovery. The authors suggest that psycholegal research conducted solely with student samples, rather than community members, may misestimate the likely behavior of actual juries. The implications of the study for split recovery policy are also discussed.

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Taxus baccata (yew) is an easily accessible plant that can cause rapidly fatal cardiotoxicity upon ingestion. While it has been documented as both a method of suicide and homicide, such cases may be underreported due to the difficulty of recognition. toxicity of the yew is due to the alkaloids taxine a and taxine B, both of which form 3,5-dimethoxyphenol metabolite. Neither alkaloids nor the metabolite is detected by routine drug screening.Here, we present a case of suicide by yew ingestion. 3,5-dimethoxyphenol was detected in gastric contents, postmortem blood and urine by two mass spectrophotometric techniques including high resolution mass spectrometry. the gastric contents contained a green, needlelike substance consistent with the yew plant. Utilizing broad spectrum screening by mass spectrometry along with comprehensive history may result in early detection of yew toxicity, facilitate treatment of cardiotoxicity, and improve survival.

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