5 Surprising Truths About Forensic Medicine, From a Doctor Who's Done 800+ Autopsies

Series: Department of Podcast

Episode: 17

Subject: Forensic Medicine

Guest: Dr. Saurabh Vishal

Host: Dr. Ankit Sharma

Turn on any crime procedural, and you’ll see the forensic pathologist: a stoic genius who solves a case with a single, dramatic incision. The reality, however, is far more complex and profoundly human. It’s a world where the stakes are absolute—justice for the dead and answers for the living—and it demands a unique combination of scientific rigor, unwavering ethics, and deep mental resilience.

To understand what this field truly asks of a person, we spoke with Dr. Saurabh Vishal, a third-year MD Forensic resident who has performed or assisted in over 800 autopsies. His journey offers a rare glimpse into a medical specialty that operates at the intersection of life, death, and the law. He reveals the counter-intuitive truths of a profession that deals with death not just to find a cause, but to serve the truth.

1. You Don't Choose Forensics; It Chooses You

While many medical students dream of becoming surgeons or radiologists, Dr. Vishal explains that his path to forensic medicine felt less like a choice and more like a calling. It wasn’t a backup plan; it was a destination that crystallized during his internship as he was exposed to real-world cases.

This pull stemmed from a pre-existing fascination with crime investigation and a commitment to ensuring justice—a perspective shaped, in part, by his family’s political background. Seeing the specialty’s direct impact on the legal system transformed his interest into a firm decision. It reframes the field not just as a scientific career but as a mission-driven vocation, attracting those compelled to find answers in the most challenging circumstances.

"So I didn't choose forensic, forensic chose me."

2. The Real Pressure Is More Subtle Than the Movies Suggest

A common trope in crime fiction is the pathologist being pressured by powerful figures to alter an autopsy report. Dr. Vishal acknowledges that political pressure is a real part of the job, but it’s rarely as simple as changing the cause of death on a whim. This pressure is an inherent friction of being a medical expert inside a legal and political "system."

He explains that influence typically comes in the form of requests to expedite a case or to minimize dissection. However, the idea of fundamentally falsifying a report is largely a myth. The entire process is built on a foundation of evidence and meticulous documentation that makes the truth difficult to compromise. As Dr. Vishal notes, "It's not that easy to change something because we have everything in documented form." This web of facts—from police papers to the physical evidence on the body itself—underscores the high ethical fortitude required in a field where a doctor's integrity is the ultimate safeguard of justice.

3. The Mental Armor Required to Face the Unnatural

The psychological toll of forensic medicine is immense. Dr. Vishal describes the cases he handles as "disturbing" and "unnatural," a stark contrast to the work of other medical specialties. The daily reality involves confronting the most graphic outcomes of violence and tragedy. This isn't just clinical observation; it's bearing witness to decapitations from railway accidents where the neck arrives separately from the body, or homicide cases where remains have been cut up and hidden, with parts arriving piecemeal. It's receiving a human brain in a bag from the scene of a traffic accident.

He admits the brutal imagery can manifest in dreams, and that mental preparedness is essential to survive, let alone thrive. To build this resilience, he relies on a disciplined workout routine. He firmly believes that building physical fitness directly translates to the mental and emotional strength needed to process the trauma inherent in the job.

"This branch is not for everyone, and especially not for the light-hearted, absolutely not. You have to keep yourself mentally and emotionally strong."

4. The Surprising Luxury of a 9-to-4 Schedule

If the mental armor is the internal defense mechanism, the structure of the work provides the external conditions for survival. In a world where medical residencies are notorious for their grueling schedules, forensic medicine offers a surprising benefit: work-life balance. Dr. Vishal contrasts his routine with the demanding hours kept by his peers in surgery and internal medicine.

His typical day begins with case calls, followed by autopsies and teaching duties, and usually concludes by 4 PM. He calls this structured schedule the "luxury of time," and it's more than just a perk—it's a critical element of sustainability in a field defined by psychological trauma. This balance has allowed him to not only manage the pressures of his residency but also to pursue other passions, including dedicating time to his family and building his successful YouTube channel, "Neet PG Waala."

5. You're Part Doctor, Part Detective

The role of a forensic expert extends far beyond the autopsy table. It requires cultivating a detective's mindset, a skill Dr. Vishal says he uses constantly. "I always feel like a detective," he admits.

The core of this approach is to not rely solely on the official history provided by police. The body itself holds the most reliable clues. This professional skepticism is where medicine ends and detective work begins, demanding a mindset that trusts only what the body can prove. It’s the work of deducing a weapon from the shape of an injury or identifying a poison different from the one reported. Beyond autopsies, their duties include appearing in court and liaising with police, making them an integral "part of the system" of law and order.

A Voice for the Voiceless

Forensic medicine is a field of profound consequence. As Dr. Vishal’s experience shows, it is a true calling, demanding unshakeable ethics to navigate a complex system and the mental armor to face an unnatural reality. It’s a profession sustained by a surprising work-life balance and animated by a detective’s methodical pursuit of truth. It is a science built on the quiet, meticulous work of listening to stories that can no longer be spoken.

It's a field that gives a voice to the voiceless, but what does it truly take for a person to bear the weight of listening to what the dead have to say?