The Code of Ethics is intended to create a culture of proper ethical behavior and professional responsibility among TIAFT members. In accordance with Article 4 of the TIAFT Constitution, a member may be censured or expelled from TIAFT for conduct that is unethical or otherwise detrimental to the profession of forensic toxicology, or to TIAFT as an organization.
Aims of the Committee
The role of the Ethics Committee is to investigate complaints brought against TIAFT members and to recommend any necessary action to the Executive Board. It is the duty of the Ethics Committee to have all complaints of an ethical nature resolved in a confidential and timely manner, where possible.
Code of Ethics
The website contains a copy of the Code of Ethics in both English and Spanish.
It is essential that all TIAFT members acknowledge their agreement with the TIAFT Code of Ethics when they apply for membership. In addition, members are prompted to review and acknowledge their continued agreement on annual renewal of membership.
Reporting a Possible Code Violation
Any ethics complaint regarding a TIAFT member must be submitted in writing to the TIAFT president, who will forward the complaint and any associated information and/or documentation to the Ethics Committee for their review and recommendation.
The Ethics Committee Handbook details the policies and procedures to be followed by the Ethics Committee and the Executive Board. All correspondence will be kept strictly confidential.
Current Committee
The Ethics Committee consists of:
Chair
Marc LeBeau (United States)
Marc A. LeBeau, PhD, is the President of LeBeau Forensic Toxicology Consulting, LLC. He retired in 2024 after a distinguished 30-year career at the FBI Laboratory.
Dr. LeBeau earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Criminal Justice from Central Missouri State University, a Master’s in Forensic Science from the University of New Haven, and a Doctorate in Toxicology from the University of Maryland – Baltimore.
He is a Fellow of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology and has held leadership roles in several scientific associations, including the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT) and The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT).
Dr. LeBeau has also led various national scientific working groups and committees, contributing significantly to the advancement of forensic toxicology and other forensic sciences. He has received numerous accolades, including the FBI Director’s Award for Outstanding Scientific Advancement, the AAFS Toxicology Section’s Alexander O. Gettler Award, as well as the Rolla Harger Award, and the International Visionary Award from End Violence Against Women International.
Committee Members
Hans H. Maurer (Germany)
Hans H. Maurer has been full Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology at the Faculty of Medicine in Homburg and at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Saarbruecken, both at Saarland University, 1992 – 2016, and head of the Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology and is now Emeritus Professor at the same department. His main two areas of research are analytical toxicology and toxicokinetics. He has published over 320 papers, review articles, and 3 Mass Spectral Libraries for GC-MS, LC-MSn, and LC-HR-MS/MS
In his career, Hans Maurer received several prestigious scientific awards e.g. in 1997 the IATDMCT Irving Sunshine Award for Outstanding Contributions to Clinical Toxicology, in 2003 the TIAFT Alan Curry Award, and in 2017 the GTFCh Jean-Servais Stas Medal both for Outstanding Contributions to Forensic Toxicology. In 2007, he received an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor honoris causa) of the Ghent University in Belgium for his outstanding scientific achievements.
Hans Maurer was IATDMCT President (2007-2009) and Council/Executive Board member (1999-2011), TIAFT executive Board member (2005-2018), chair of the 2010 TIAFT-GTFCh International Meeting in Bonn (Germany), and GTFCh treasurer (1987-2017). From 2012-2014, he was Dean of the Faculty 2, Theoretical Medicine and Biosciences, of the Saarland University in Homburg. From 2013-2021, he was member of the expert committee of the German Federal Government for scheduling new drugs of abuse.
M.J. Menendez (USA)
M.J. Menendez is the Executive Director of the Center for Forensic Science and Education where she is also a Senior Fellow in Forensic Jurisprudence. M.J. earned her law degree from the University of Colorado in May of 1991. She served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Colorado for 13 years. During that time, she was detailed to the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces headquarters in Washington, D.C. where she was the national Heroin, Opioids, and Fentanyl Special Projects Coordinator. M.J. has also spent ten years as a Deputy District Attorney and three years as a district court judge in Jefferson County, Colorado. M.J. teaches at the Robert F. Borkenstein Alcohol course hosted at the Center for Studies of Law in Action, as well as the Borkenstein Drug course, and she has presented nationally and internationally on issues relating to the intersection of law and forensic science. M.J. currently serves as Executive Vice President for the National Association of Medical Examiners.
Hessun Chung (South Korea)
Professor Heesun Chung is a Distinguished Professor of Forensic Science at Sungkyunkwan University and formerly served as President of the National Forensic Service of Korea, where she also directed the Forensic Science department, Narcotics, and Drug Toxicology Divisions. Internationally, she served as the 22nd President of the International Association of Forensic Sciences (IAFS, 2011–2014) and the 13th President of the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT, 2014–2017). From 2019 to 2025, she contributed as a Forensic Expert for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Her current research focuses on developing screening tools for drug-facilitated crimes. Her major honors include the UK CBE, Korea’s Medal for Distinguished Service, and TIAFT’s Alan Curry Award.
Eleuterio Umpierrez (Uruguay)
TBR
Past Committee Members
- Olaf H. Drummer (Australia)
- Frank Peters (Germany)
- Yi Ju Yao (Singapore)
- Robert Osiewicz (United States)