Science, empathy, and a gender perspective in contemporary forensic practice
The first time I encountered forensic medicine, I was unaware of how deeply it was connected to stories, silences, and unanswered questions. Over time, I came to understand that behind every report, every examination, there is a human life that needs to be interpreted with care, accuracy, and responsibility. This is precisely where Ángela’s work takes shape.
Ángela Martínez is a professional who leaves a lasting impression. She is a specialist in forensic medicine currently working at the Hospital of Burgos, where she develops her professional practice in a field in which science, justice and the human dimension are constantly intertwined. She is an expert in gender perspective and is about to complete a master’s degree in this specialisation. Her work highlights the importance of a critical and sensitive approach to forensic medicine, addressing cases in which technical analysis coexists with complex social realities.
Not only because of her scientific rigor, but because of the calm clarity with which she explains complex realities and the sensitivity she brings to situations charged with emotion, listening to her, one senses an ability to read beyond what is visible, to understand bodies, contexts, and absences, and to translate them into meaningful answers.
Our conversation flows naturally between science, ethics, and social responsibility. The perspective of gender, central to her academic and professional path, becomes a key lens through which she approaches her work, challenging neutral narratives and highlighting structural inequalities often hidden in medical and judicial discourse.
Could you tell us about a case that has been particularly significant for you?
Throughout my career, there have been many cases that have left their mark, but especially those in which the investigation has made it possible to clarify an initially confusing death and provide answers for the family.
I particularly remember the case of sudden infant death syndrome. It involved an apparently healthy baby who was found dead in the early hours of the morning while sleeping. From the outset, the case was emotionally charged, both because of the impact on the family and the need to rule out any other cause of death, including violent causes, such as possible child abuse.
Cases like this are particularly sensitive because, in addition to scientific rigour, they require very careful communication with the family. For parents, the absence of a specific cause is extremely difficult to accept.
As a coroner, this case reminded me that our job is not only to determine the cause of death, but also to provide clear and honest answers, helping to alleviate the uncertainty and guilt that often accompany such losses.
How do you handle cases that are more difficult or shocking emotionally?
At first it was very difficult, but with time and experience you learn how to manage it. The first thing is to establish clear boundaries between your professional and personal life, like for example not taking cases home with you.
The key is to have the support of your colleagues and team. Discussing cases with other professionals allows you to normalise your emotions and can give you other perspectives.
In addition, you have to accept that certain situations cannot be changed and are beyond our control. The only thing that depends on us is a job well done that provides answers and helps resolve legal proceedings.
Have you noticed any significant differences in the types of cases that arise in urban and rural areas?
Yes, and quite clearly so. Generally, in urban areas, cases related to interpersonal violence, traffic accidents, sexual assaults and substance abuse predominate. In rural areas, on the other hand, work-related accidents, especially in agriculture and livestock farming, and suicides among the elderly are more common, influenced by factors such as isolation and more closed social contexts.
How do these differences affect the way you work or conduct research?
In urban areas, there is usually greater availability of technical and human resources, as well as more specialised equipment, which allows for a faster response and a more defined distribution of tasks.
In contrast, in rural areas, forensic professionals tend to take on broader roles and work with fewer resources, distances, a lower frequency of cases and greater proximity to the community. I remember a case of an accidental fall from a roof in a village of 26 inhabitants… When I arrived in the village, everyone was there, wanting to get involved and find out what had happened, which can influence both the response time and the relationship with the people involved.
In recent years, there has been a huge increase in public interest in forensic medicine, with crime series, podcasts and documentaries. How do you perceive this phenomenon from your professional perspective?
From a forensic medical perspective, I see it as a double-edged sword. It has helped to raise the profile of our work and spark interest in science applied to justice, but it has also created unrealistic expectations about the actual scope of our daily work.
It is frustrating that media interest focuses almost exclusively on the study of death, when forensic medicine is a much broader discipline with a significant social impact. It encompasses the assessment of injuries in living persons, gender-based violence, sexual abuse and assault, forensic psychiatry, the identification of persons, and the protection of vulnerable groups.
Reducing it solely to autopsies and crimes not only distorts the reality of our work, but also renders invisible a fundamental part of its social and health function.
Do you think this media interest reflects the reality of your work, or are there many myths circulating in popular culture?
Popular culture spreads more myths than realities. TV series and films often show immediate results, infallible technologies and absolutely accurate conclusions, when in practice we work with probabilities, margins of error and long timeframes.
On the other hand, they tend to blur the real roles of the different professionals involved in a crime. The roles of the different experts are often mixed up, giving the impression that one person does everything. It is not the first time I have been asked how I examine the murder weapon, how I label the evidence or if I use chalk, questions that are either answered by the Judicial Police or are not even asked in daily practice.
Has the way the public or even the families involved in cases view you changed due to this boom in forensic culture?
Yes, absolutely. Part of the public expects quick and conclusive answers, influenced by what they see on television or hear on podcasts. In the case of families, and even other professionals involved in the legal process, like lawyers, judges, or police, excessive and unrealistic expectations are generated about what forensic medicine can contribute to the clarification of a case. This requires greater communication efforts, clearly explaining the scope of our work to avoid frustration or misunderstandings.
Beyond the technical procedures and the scientific protocols, Ángela Martínez’s work reveals forensic medicine as a discipline deeply rooted in social responsibility and human care. Her approach, shaped by scientific rigor and a strong gender perspective, challenges simplified and sensationalised narratives, reminding us that forensic practice is not only about determining causes, but also about understanding contexts, giving voice to silences and providing clarity where uncertainty prevails. In a field often portrayed through myths and stereotypes, her testimony invites us to look beyond the autopsy and to recognise forensic medicine as a key space where justice, ethics and empathy truly converge.
Ethically created and written by human students, assessed by human experts, and some language revision with AI tools.
