The plight of forensic doctors

Healing the sick and saving lives is always a source of pride for every doctor. However, for forensic doctors, their work is unique, dealing with special "patients."

Forensic doctor Nguyen Xuan Quang (second from the right) is always careful and meticulous with each examination result.

When the patient is the victim

For Dr. Nguyen Xuan Quang, Deputy Director of the Hai Duong Forensic Center, his work has no beginning or end. Whenever the phone rings, Dr. Quang immediately sets off. The destination might be a hospital, but it could also be a crime scene. "You always have to be ready, you can't hesitate or procrastinate, and you have to push beyond the ordinary limits," Dr. Quang shared, emphatically stating his professional experience.

Previously, Dr. Quang studied general medicine with a focus on forensic science. Since 2006, he has worked at Hai Duong Provincial General Hospital in the Laboratory and Pathology Department. In 2021, when the Provincial Forensic Center was established, Dr. Quang was transferred there.

The Provincial Forensic Center is located on the bustling Beijing Street in Hai Duong City, so it inevitably attracts suspicious and scrutinizing glances from the surrounding residents. Doctor Quang smiled and said, "Many people think we bring corpses here for dissection, but that's not the case, and our work is much more than that."

Having worked in medicine for nearly 20 years and dedicated almost 5 years to his work at the Provincial Forensic Center, Dr. Quang has experienced all the hardships and difficulties, but also the full sense of responsibility and pride, of being a forensic doctor.

Unlike other medical specialists who only need to use all their abilities to treat patients, forensic doctors often have victims as their "patients." Therefore, in addition to solid expertise and professional skills, forensic doctors must also cultivate a "steel spirit."

Dr. Quang stated that forensic science not only involves scientific assessments but also reveals that each case file tells a unique story. Forensic results provide crucial evidence for the prosecution to uphold justice, requiring forensic doctors to carefully and meticulously evaluate and assess objectively and truthfully. Subjective or qualitative assessments can lead to errors in investigations and potentially cause wrongful convictions. “There are cases where documents and medical records weigh as much as 5-6 kg, but we still have to study them thoroughly, avoiding carelessness and mistakes. Furthermore, understanding and empathizing with each individual's circumstances makes us even more dedicated and responsible,” Dr. Quang shared.

Doctor Nguyen Dang Hoang (right in the photo) He has been involved in forensic examination work for nearly 30 years.

Having worked in forensic medicine for nearly 30 years, Dr. Nguyen Dang Hoang understands the unique characteristics and differences of this profession better than anyone else. Dr. Hoang studied general medicine, expecting to only prescribe medication, but the profession chose him. The medical knowledge he acquired wasn't for treating illnesses, but for conducting investigations and uncovering the truth.

To stay in the profession, he constantly honed his expertise, honed his character, and wasn't afraid of confrontation, even living under threat. According to Dr. Hoang, this job is very susceptible to bribery if one isn't vigilant and keeps a cool head. "The victim wants a harsher verdict, while the perpetrator wants a lighter one. Therefore, if a forensic doctor lacks both integrity and competence, it can easily disrupt the rule of law," Dr. Hoang explained.

Throughout his career, Dr. Hoang has lost count of the number of times he has participated in forensic examinations and investigations in his pursuit of justice. However, the case that left the deepest impression on him, one that has caused him much reflection and concern, occurred nearly 20 years ago in Thang Long commune (Kinh Mon district). From the crime scene, authorities initially determined the cause of death to be suicide. However, after observing the marks on the victim's body, Dr. Hoang believed that the victim could not have inflicted such wounds on himself. After much deliberation and analysis, the authorities decided to request a forensic examination.

At that time, the victim's family was holding a funeral. The forensic examination results served as the basis for the investigation, leading to the discovery that the perpetrator was the victim's son. To protect their son, the victim's family concealed the crime by creating a false crime scene. Although the truth was revealed, justice was served, and the guilty party paid the price, Dr. Hoang remained troubled by the outcome, which no one desired. He confided: "Other doctors who save patients' lives are proud and want to show off their achievements to everyone. But for us, it's always quiet and unassuming, afraid of the commotion because our work is connected to the dark side, the negative aspects of society."

Thoughts about the profession

The Hai Duong Forensic Center currently has 4 doctors, still short of half the required number. The complex social situation exacerbates the workload of forensic doctors. Due to the high precision required by their work, forensic doctors face significant pressure. Regulations stipulate they should only work 6 hours per day and no more than 5 days per week. However, this regulation is never strictly followed. It's not that they intentionally violate the rules, but rather that adhering to them would negatively impact legal proceedings. The unique nature of the profession makes recruiting forensic doctors very difficult, even with the province offering the highest incentives. Currently, the youngest forensic doctor at the center is over 40 years old.

The workload for forensic doctors is increasing while recruitment is becoming more difficult.

Dr. Quang is all too familiar with unexpected work trips, often far from home. Regardless of the time or day, whenever an incident occurs, he's at the scene. He even has to travel to other provinces and cities to perform his duties. For example, if an accident or injury occurs in Hai Duong but the victim is in another province, he still has to go there to conduct the examination. Therefore, balancing work and family life is sometimes a source of worry and concern for the forensic doctor.

As for Dr. Hoang, he's had his share of ups and downs in his profession. Due to professional prejudice, his girlfriend's parents initially opposed their relationship, leading to their breakup. Sometimes, when he introduces himself as a forensic pathologist, many people are hesitant to interact with him. Some even avoid shaking his hand or sharing a meal. And sometimes, forensic doctors face difficulties defending their own decisions in court, as many cases involve disagreements with the examination results, leading to lawsuits.

However, above all, Dr. Hoang remains dedicated and persistent in his profession. Throughout his years in the field, Dr. Hoang has always been steadfast, not allowing anything to sway him. His fair and objective forensic examinations have significantly contributed to assisting law enforcement in investigating and solving cases.

What doctors at the Provincial Forensic Center are most concerned about, besides hoping for a positive image from society, is having suitable working conditions that allow them to stay committed to their profession. The Hai Duong Forensic Center is one of the newer centers established nationwide. Despite this, the center's facilities are inadequate and difficult to maintain. The center's headquarters are repurposed from another unit, thus failing to meet its functional requirements. Furthermore, the center is located in a cramped neighborhood, making it inconvenient to transport patients for examination, especially those with serious injuries. Although the examination work requires mobility and urgency, the center has yet to be provided with official vehicles.

Currently, the working conditions at the Provincial Forensic Center are still difficult and limited.

Despite a shortage of personnel, the doctors and specialists at the Provincial Forensic Center possess sufficient capacity and expertise to perform medical techniques for forensic examinations. However, due to a lack of equipment and machinery, the center has to coordinate with other medical facilities for testing and imaging. This lack of proactive management in these areas affects the examination time and may disrupt the legal proceedings. This is a major limitation that needs to be addressed promptly so that the provincial forensic sector can build trust and establish its position.

Each year, the Hai Duong Forensic Center conducts more than 600 examinations of injuries, assaults, diseases, etc. In addition, doctors at the center also collaborate with other agencies in conducting examinations to support investigation and prosecution work.

Despite the challenges, forensic doctors remain dedicated and committed to fighting for truth and justice.

HOANG LINH

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/noi-niem-bac-si-phap-y-412097.html