28 December 2010:
Someone asked me why I like Forensics.
I know it seems like a random post, but I decided to blog about Forensics because I am now watching Forensic Heroes 2. Yes, it was released in 2008, but it's only now that I'm watching it. Still, even after the lag, I think it's a real nice show. (The only bad part was the rather fake autopsy scenes.)I don't know since when I started liking Forensics, but it definitely wasn't after I watched CSI. In fact, I haven't watched a single episode of CSI, and have no intention to. According to majority of Forensic books that I have read, the authors unanimously crticised CSI. If I remember correctly, one of the biggest mistake that CSI producers make is portaying the time taken to solve cases. It was too good to be true.
My first impression of forensics was that it only involves dissecting of bodies to get evidence. It was only after that that I realised forensics also handle material evidence, and etc. I really am impressed about the wonder that forensics can do.
Till today, there are two forensic phrases that I still remember: "Every contact leaves a trace", and "the dead do talk". The former was by Edmond Locard, who devised an exchange principle which states that everyone leaves behind some form of evidence, while taking away yet another kind of evidence. This principle has helped forensic officers solve countless cases.
I forgot who said the second phrase, but it is also very meaningful. Really, the dead do talk. By dissecting a corpse and doing relevant tests, forensic pathologists are able to deduce what happened to a body, and from there, find the murderer (if it was murder). Of course, the main objective is to find out the cause of death.
I admire two people: (late) Dr. Chao Tzee Cheng, and Dr. Pornthip Rojanasunand. Both have been forensic heroes, former in Singapore, latter in Thailand. Dr. Chao has helped Singapore solve many ground-breaking murder cases, mainly during the 70s and 80s. He was the man that raised Singapore's level of professionalism in this area. Sadly, he died on 21 Feb 2000. In his lifetime, he had conducted more than 25000 autopsies.
Dr. Pornthip Rojanasunand is a brave woman. She used forensics to challenge the corruption of the Thai police force. She once said that she rather worked on dead bodies, because you need not be afraid of causing their death. She was the main forensic pathologist responsible for identifying victims of the Aceh tsunami in 2004, which was a huge feat.
Being a forensic pathologist is the closest one get in the medico-legal field, which is what I want. A bit of medicine, a bit of law. The best of both worlds.