Editorial: Exploring adverse drug reactions, medication adherence, and forensic markers in pediatrics and obstetrics

This Research Topic, “Exploring Adverse Drug Reactions, Medication Adherence, and Forensic Markers in Pediatrics and Obstetrics”, emphasizes the essential role of multidisciplinary approaches in addressing contemporary therapeutic challenges, which include evidence on adverse drug reactions, medication adherence, and forensic markers. This special issue also calls for improved surveillance, age-appropriate dosing, adherence strategies, and multidisciplinary forensic approaches. This special issue brings together studies of experimental models and clinical research collected in 17 articles. This editorial frames three interlinked priorities: understanding and preventing adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in vulnerable populations, improving medication adherence to reduce harm and waste, and developing forensic markers to support diagnosis and medicolegal investigations in pediatrics and obstetrics. It emphasizes that developmental physiology, off-label prescribing, and pregnancy-specific pharmacokinetics increase both ADR risk and diagnostic complexity. ADRs and medication adherence are vital to healthcare, especially in pediatric and obstetric care. Children and pregnant women are more susceptible to ADRs, emphasizing the need for careful medication management and precise medical practices. Forensic pathology is crucial for investigating medical malpractice by analyzing medication errors, adherence problems, and the pathological effects of adverse reactions.