Handling dead bodies in forensic investigations and its temporal psychological effects

Abstract

First responders and forensic scientists are frequently subjected to significant psychological stressors as part of their professional responsibilities in establishing the certainty of death and safeguarding human dignity and property. This article draws upon ten years of experiential data from forensic and criminal investigations in Tanzania involving crime scenes, disaster sites, exhumations, and postmortem examinations in mortuaries. The most challenging specimens encountered by forensic practitioners tend to be in advanced stages of decomposition, amputated, burned, mutilated, or presenting as skeletonized, ripped open, or bloated due to drowning. Consequently, this paper delineates the common transient psychological effects observed in investigators following the handling of deceased bodies. Notably, many practitioners report symptoms such as loss of appetite or cessation of meat consumption after engaging with such cases. Furthermore, the study discusses the reality of temporary psychological disturbances including intrusive thoughts, stress, vivid imaginations, and fears experienced by dead body’s handlers and investigators in the field. It emphasizes the critical importance of timely psychological counseling and support in mitigating these adverse effects.