Nurse seeks truth from… corpses

BAR'S CHOICE

Seeking justice, helping corpses speak up… are metaphors often used to describe the work of forensic examiners and technicians. With the work of examiningcorpse, identifying injuries, looking for signs of abuse, etc., forensic workers face a lot of pressure both mentally and physically. Many people have to hide and avoid mentioning their work to avoid criticism and alienation from those around them. In addition, the policy and modest income of the profession lead to difficulties in attracting medical students who rarely choose this job, even many people who have worked for a long time have the intention of changing jobs.

Looking at the small and pretty appearance of nurse Nguyen Thi Thanh, few people can guess her job. Photo: DT

However, in 2013, a newly graduated nurse named Nguyen Thi Thanh (born in 1991) proactively chose this job. Thanh explained: “Since I was very young, I have loved reading detective stories and watching crime movies. Growing up, although I could not become a detective or a police investigator, I still loved and admired this job. Right after graduating, I happened to read the recruitment information for nurses from the Nghe An Province Forensic Center. This was the first time the center recruited female nurses. Realizing that I met all the requirements for this position, I immediately applied.”

In a special agency like the Provincial Forensic Center, many men hesitate to step through the gate, but Thanh applied to work there. Looking at Thanh's young, eager face when he submitted his application, the director of the Forensic Center at that time asked: Can you participate in assisting in the autopsy?

Nguyen Thi Thanh prepares appraisal tools. Photo: DT

“I am ready!” Thanh replied, gently but convincingly. The very next day, Thanh was called by the center’s leaders to participate in an autopsy. The young girl’s steadfastness and determination convinced the center’s leaders. With the support and trust of her parents, Thanh continued her studies and worked as a technician and file receptionist at the center.Provincial Forensic Center.

Recalling her first days in the profession, Thanh confided: “Although I didn’t show it, I was really scared at that time. The first few nights, I couldn’t sleep, every time I closed my eyes, images from the autopsy appeared. However, after a short time, I realized that there was something even bigger than fear. It was the pity for the unfortunate lives, the fragile boundary between life and death. It was those emotions that became the motivation for me to stick with this profession no matter what others said. And until now, I confidently say that I made the right choice.”

CONTRIBUTE YOURSELF TO THE JOURNEY FOR JUSTICE

The Nghe An Provincial Forensic Center is located on Tan Hung Street, which used to be the morgue of the former Polish Friendship General Hospital. The familiar working space of Thanh and the examiners and technicians at the Provincial Forensic Center is the morgue. This room, about 20 square meters wide, is located back to back with the center's reception room for records and documents.

The stone table in the mortuary - where the corpse is placed for examination. Photo: DT

In the middle of the room are two stone tables, with electricity, water, and full lighting, specially designed to serve the work of autopsy and dissection. The simple space and the introduction of this room can make anyone with a weak heart shiver. But for Thanh, this is the ideal working space for autopsy work. "It is not always possible to conduct an autopsy in conditions with full equipment and tools of a mortuary, sister. In most accidents and deaths of unknown causes, we can only bring along a toolbox, protective gear, and the simplest equipment to carry out the work as quickly as possible right on the ground, at the scene under temporary conditions and barriers. Cases of autopsies conducted in villages and hamlets in mountainous districts are even more lacking" - Thanh shared.

One of Thanh's most challenging assignments was when he participated in an autopsy in a remote village.Xiangyang District. The village is very far from the center and the road to get there is almost not a straight road. The continuous curves make the driver feel sick because of the feeling of motion sickness. When arriving, although extremely tired, the working group had to get to work immediately. Thanh recalled: “Because there was no other choice, the victim was operated on right on his family's land, witnessed by many villagers - something that rarely happens and in conditions lacking many things, from water sources to supplies... As the technician directly supporting this autopsy, I had to constantly reassure myself, and find ways to manage to complete the task in the best way possible”.

According to regulations, autopsy is one of the 77 jobs that women are not allowed to do and the center did not assign it, but Thanh volunteered to participate in this task, under the guidance of a forensic examiner. Photo: DT

Not only is it a toxic environment, not only is it physical risk, not only is it psychological, forensic examiners and technicians are also under a lot of pressure. They are responsible for the results of their examinations,bear many dangers, pressure from public opinion, from victims, from perpetrators, from lawyers, courts, prosecution agencies... Mr. Nguyen Van Hien - Director of the Provincial Forensic Center shared: "The job requires the team of experts and technicians to always be ready to accept tasks, even at 1-2 am. In addition, we must always stay calm under a lot of pressure to be clear-headed in handling the work. Therefore, female technicians who are dedicated and devoted to the profession like Thanh are truly admirable."

As the person who directly guided Thanh, Doctor Can Quang Ha - an examiner at the Nghe An Province Forensic Center shared that many times, Thanh was the one who soothed the anger and pain of the victim's family with the calm demeanor, courage of a forensic staff and the sincerity, gentleness, and kindness of a woman.

Finding meaning in her work, Nguyen Thi Thanh affirms that she will stick with the job for a long time. Photo: DT

Looking back on nearly 10 years of working at the Provincial Forensic Center, Thanh confided: “As the only female technician, I have always been enthusiastically guided and encouraged by my colleagues in the agency. Above all, I am attached to this place, this job, this task because I find meaning in what I do. The job gives me the opportunity to contribute my efforts on the front line of fighting crime, protecting justice, and bringing justice to society.”