Introduction to Clinical and Forensic Toxicology

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Introduction to Clinical and Forensic Toxicology

Instructor: Rafael Henry-Venson

1 module

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

3 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

1 module

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

3 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Learn how toxins and drugs affect the human body, from absorption to elimination.
Recognise the signs of poisoning and understand how it's treated in clinical practice.
Discover how forensic toxicologists detect and interpret evidence in real investigations.

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There is 1 module in this course

By the end of this course, you'll be able to explain how toxins and drugs affect the human body, recognise clinical toxidromes, and describe how poisoning is managed in emergency settings. You'll also learn how toxicological samples are analysed in the lab, how forensic experts interpret evidence in real cases, and how the field is adapting to emerging threats like Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS).

Led by Rafael Henry-Venson, a pharmacist with over 8 years of forensic toxicology experience across more than 2,000 ante- and post-mortem cases, this course draws on real investigations - from drug-facilitated crime to accidental poisoning - to show how toxicology works in practice, not just in theory. Whether you're curious about how substances become deadly, considering a career in clinical or forensic toxicology, or working in healthcare, law enforcement, public health, or drug regulation, this course will give you a clear, practical foundation and insight into the career pathways this field can open up.

Welcome! I'm Rafael Henry-Venson. In this short introduction, I'll tell you a little about my background in pharmacy and forensic toxicology (which includes over 2,000 forensic cases) and outline who will benefit most from this course. In Lesson 2: Using two real case reports (spoilers alert: a traveller poisoned with a plant and a couple poisoned by antifreeze) plus two surprising cases of water intoxication (!), this clip introduces what toxicology is and why it matters in both medicine and forensic investigation.

What's included

11 videos8 readings2 assignments2 discussion prompts

11 videosTotal 54 minutes

Welcome to Clinical & Forensic Toxicology1 minute
When Substances Can Kill: An Introduction to Toxicology6 minutes
Toxicokinetics: What the Body Does to Drugs5 minutes
Toxicodynamics: What Drugs Do to the Body6 minutes
Recognising Poisoning: Clinical Toxidromes5 minutes
Treating Poisonings: Clinical Management & Antidotes7 minutes
Clinical Toxicology in Practice: Detecting Poisons in the Laboratory6 minutes
Forensic and Clinical Toxicology in Practice9 minutes
Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS): The New Reality of Drug Use5 minutes
Careers in Clinical & Forensic Toxicology4 minutes
Closing Video0 minutes

8 readingsTotal 37 minutes

Stay connected with UofG Online2 minutes
Recap Reading 1: Foundations of Toxicology5 minutes
References and Further Reading # 12 minutes
Recap Reading 2: Recognising, Treating and Investigating Poisoning8 minutes
References and Further Reading # 25 minutes
Recap Reading 3: Toxicology Today and Future Pathways8 minutes
References and Further Reading # 32 minutes
Keeping Learning with UofG Online5 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 50 minutes

Practice Quiz20 minutes
Graded Quiz30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Why Are You Here?10 minutes
Your Future in Toxicology: Which Path Appeals to You?10 minutes

Instructor

Rafael Henry-Venson

University of Glasgow

2 Courses9,046 learners

Offered by

University of Glasgow

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