The field of forensic toxicology has expanded to include drug and alcohol testing for employers and transportation agencies, as well as animal samples for wildlife detectives and testing for date rape drugs and performance-enhancing substances. In criminal courts, crimes committed by persons under the influence of drugs or medicines are among the most frequently reported. These crimes could be the result of the effect of the drug leading to a change in the person`s behavior or thought process. [17] Forensic pharmacology deals with the study of “drugs of abuse”, such as cannabinoids, central nervous system (CNS) stimulants such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, tobacco and amphetamine-related drugs, CNS tranquilizers such as alcohol, benzodiazepines and opioids, hallucinogens such as lysergic acid diethylamide, mescaline and phencyclidine, dissociative anesthetics such as ketamine, inhalants such as chloroform and anabolic steroids. [3] These drugs are often involved in criminal and civil cases related to bodily injury, car accidents, drug overdoses, and murders. Their actions and responsibility for addiction also have profound medico-legal implications. [3] This was the first criminal case in India to be solved with the help of forensics, and criminals attempted to hide a murder with firearms by setting fire to the body. However, an intelligent and systematic forensic examination revealed the true cause of death. The case involved an incident in which the victim was shot dead by Shusil Sharma (the victim`s husband) and placed in tandoor. After his wife`s murder, Sharma took his body in his car to Bamiya restaurant, where he and restaurant manager Keshav Kumar tried to burn it in a tandoor. Police seized Sharma`s revolver and blood-stained clothing and sent it to the forensic laboratory in Lodhi Road. They also took blood samples from Sahni`s parents, Harbhajan Singh and Jaswant Kaur, and sent them for DNA testing.

According to the laboratory report, “the blood samples kept by the doctor during the autopsy and the blood stains on two threads obtained from the skull and neck of the body of the deceased Naina belong to blood type B.” The DNA report confirmed that the body was that of Sahni: “The tests prove beyond reasonable doubt that the charred body is that of Naina Sahni, the biological descendant of Mr. Harbhajan Singh and Jaswant Kaur.” Finally, Mr. Shusil Sharma was convicted on the basis of forensic evidence. January 21, 2020 NC Criminal Law blog post by Phil Dixon with links to resources for defense attorneys advocating the new crimes of death by distribution and serious death by distribution in G.S. 14-18.4. This is one of the post-mortem specimens. The availability of autopsy specimens in post-mortem toxicology allows for a more flexible analytical approach to analysis, although some samples are more valuable than others when certain drugs or poisons are involved in death. The fact that the vitreous is located in an anatomically isolated and protected area of the body (behind the lens), combined with its good stability as a biological fluid, makes this specimen more resistant to putrefactive changes than other post-mortem samples. All available vitreous fluid from each eye should be collected separately.23 Vitreous is particularly useful for post-mortem analysis of glucose, urea nitrogen, uric acid, creatinine, sodium and chloride. These are important tests for assessing diabetes, hydration levels, electrolyte imbalances, postmortem interval, and state of kidney function prior to death.24 A forensic toxicologist typically holds a bachelor`s degree in chemistry, clinical chemistry, pharmacology, or another scientific field. Some universities now offer master`s and doctoral degrees in forensic toxicology.

Be sure to choose a bachelor`s or master`s degree program in forensic science accredited by the Commission d`accreditation des programmes d`enseignement des sciences judiciaires (FEPAC). If poisoning or drug use is suspected in a crime, a forensic toxicologist is called in to assist with the legal or medical investigation. Often, the toxicologist enters a crime scene and looks for anything that could indicate toxic disorders, such as pill bottles, dirty needles, and illegal drugs or traces of residue. The toxicologist then returns to a laboratory and analyzes the chemical composition of the substance and tries to determine whether or not the substance was toxic and, if so, how much or what dose was needed to harm a poisoning victim. ABFT is a non-profit organization that certifies forensic toxicologists and accredits forensic toxicology laboratories that meet ABFT standards. With a background in pharmacology, a pharmacologist has specialized knowledge as well as professional experience in the fields of therapeutics, pharmacokinetics and toxicology, as well as in the treatment of topics such as forensic medicine during medical training. All these areas of knowledge can be applied and serve as an interface to forensic situations. The skills and expertise of a forensic pharmacologist can be useful in a large and diverse number of legal cases. With an ever-increasing incidence of criminal and civil cases in India, the development and participation of forensic pharmacologists in the Indian judicial system is on the agenda. Pharmacology research has seen a major technological breakthrough that allows it to expand its reach beyond the therapeutic area, allowing Indian pharmacologists to explore the niche field of forensic pharmacology.

Different pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of live and dead drugs, drug interactions, drug abuse, assaults or deaths due to exposure to drugs resulting in medico-legal problems, environmental exposure to chemicals, as well as doping and forensic pharmacovigilance are the multiple aspects of forensic pharmacology. In fact, we know that with the beginning of the 21st century, the scope of a forensic toxicology service has become technically and intellectually very demanding. Although shortcomings in forensic toxicology persist in some areas, its role in the judicial system and the resolution of criminal cases remains highly valued and considered reliable. But after the restrictions, the court and society as a whole depend on the results of the forensic investigation and reports. The growth of forensic studies in the field of toxicology is observed, because as society progresses and becomes more complex, crime comes in various forms. This requires the use of modern scientific techniques in the investigation. This need of society is met by the field of forensic toxicology. Forensic pharmacology is an interface between forensics, toxicology and pharmacology. The total scope is summarized in Figure 1. Although it is an important subspecialty, it is often overlooked by pharmacologists in India and little recognized or developed in our country. It is on the agenda to discuss comprehensive information on the use or abuse of drugs and chemicals and their medico-legal implications. Around the world, several educational institutes and universities have special centers “that teach forensic pharmacology”, for example, the American Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences has its own “Center for Forensic Pharmacology”.

[39] South Dakota State University and the City University of New York also offer courses in forensic pharmacology. The addition of forensic pharmacology as a specialization in India or the focus on the legal aspects of drugs during pharmacology studies will certainly help medical students. An expert who testifies before a court must have specific knowledge, skills, experience, education and even training to obtain the qualification that allows him or her to give an expert opinion to the court. The trial judge exercises his or her discretion as to whether or not a person can be an expert. Pharmacologists have training and experience in pharmacology, which allows them to act as experts in a variety of civil and criminal cases. They must testify in court on a variety of issues related to adverse drug reactions, medication errors, bodily injury, drug testing, workers` compensation, impaired driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol and poisoning. [3] Toxicology is the study of chemicals on living organisms, particularly human poisoning. Toxicology involves the study of symptoms, mechanisms, treatments and detection of poisoning on the body.

Chemicals or toxic substances can be biological, physical or chemical. As toxicology and science evolve, knowledge about the effects of toxic substances on the body continues to advance. Currently, a medical student pursuing an MBBS degree in India is studying various topics. These include pharmacology, which deals with various drugs; their therapeutic effects and applications, as well as forensic medicine, which deals with the legal implications of behaviour, injury and disease.