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Forensic pathologist reveals the reality behind high-profile autopsies
KUALA LUMPUR: From decomposed bodies to recent tragedies such as the death of a family in Sungai Korok, one profession quietly unravels the cause of death in Malaysia's most disturbing cases.
Forensic pathologists are key to unlocking the truth behind mysterious deaths, yet their work often goes unnoticed. Contrary to public belief, their role extends far beyond performing autopsies.
Dr Nadiawati Abdul Razak, senior lecturer and head of the Forensic Medicine Unit at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM), described her journey and the pressure that comes with revealing the final answers in death.
"My Interest in the field of forensic pathology began to blossom during my clinical attachment training as a house officer in the hospital's forensic department.
"I had the opportunity to observe how post-mortems were conducted in complex death cases and how forensic pathologists pieced together scientific facts to uncover the truth behind deaths involving criminal elements," she said.
She said that each case comes with its own challenges, but the ones that left an impact were those involving children who died as a result of abuse.
"These cases are not only technically and legally challenging, but also deeply emotional, as I, too, feel the sorrow as a human being and a parent,.
"Seeing the suffering that no child should ever endure gives me the strength to do my best to ensure that justice is served," she said.
Dr Nadiawati has handled national and international disaster victim identification (DVI) operations, including the Maahad Tahfiz fire in 2017, COVID-19 fatalities, and landslide tragedies. In high-profile cases, she said pathologists must remain objective despite immense pressure from the media, police, lawyers, and public.
"In the fast-paced era of social media, information spreads easily before the forensic process is fully completed," she said.
In such cases, she said integrity and scientific accuracy are vital.
"We follow strict protocols based on WHO and Royal College of Pathologists standards. Every external and internal finding, radiological scan, and lab result is documented ."
She added that she is also working with UPNM's computer science department on AI research for use in the field.
"I am currently collaborating with the Computer Science Department at UPNM on a study related to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in analysing types of injuries based on images or photographs obtained from the authorities.
She said the aim is to improve the accuracy of identifying injury patterns in an objective and scientific manner, which can also serve as strong evidence in court. This technology also has the potential to speed up the analysis process in high-profile cases or those involving multiple victims.
"In addition, I am also conducting research in the field of forensic anthropology under a grant from UPNM's Research and Innovation Division, focusing on estimating the age at death based on morphological examination of the spine using CT scan images," she said.
This study aims to develop a more accurate age estimation method suitable for use within the local population, with particular focus on changes that occur in the vertebrae as a person ages.
The study has the potential to be used in cases involving the identification of human remains, especially when only partial skeletal remains are recovered from a scene."It is hoped that the findings of this study will contribute to improving the accuracy of skeletal biological profiling and further strengthen forensic anthropology practices in Malaysia," she said.
