Forensic Pharmacology

Pharmacology is a branch of medical science which deals mainly with drug classifications, actions, side effects and therapeutic uses. “Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological basis of Therapeutics” describes subject of pharmacology as a broad one that embraces the knowledge of the source, physical and chemical properties, compounding, physiological actions, absorption, fate, excretion, and therapeutic uses of drugs. It also defines drug as any chemical agent that affects living protoplasm. This definition of drugs includes the poisons and toxic chemicals as well. Toxicology is concerned with the deleterious effects of the poisons and chemical agents on all living systems. Toxicology is included as a part of Forensic Medicine for Medical curriculum in India. It is defined as the science that involves detection of drugs and poisons in biological specimens and its application for medico-legal purposes.

The interpretation of drug effects, use or abuse and its duration of action for the medico-legal process is referred to as Forensic Pharmacology. A fine line differentiates Forensic Pharmacology from Toxicology. Some textbook use terms like “Pharmacological toxicology” for assessing the toxicity of therapeutic agents. Parikh’s textbook of Medical jurisprudence, Forensic medicine & Toxicology, mentions Forensic Pharmacology as a part of Forensic medicine. It discusses toxicities…