Navigating medicine and justice: A life history and phenomenological study of forensic doctors' experiences

Forensic doctors play a crucial role at the intersection of medicine and law, offering expertise in legal matters. However, their work exposes them to significant emotional and psychological stress, increasing the risk of burnout. Despite the critical nature of their profession, little research has explored how forensic doctors construct their professional identities, cope with work-related challenges, and make sense of their professional experiences. To address this gap, we adopted a life-history approach combined with interpretative phenomenological analysis to examine the subjective career trajectories and meaning-making processes of forensic doctors in Italy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants, capturing their personal and professional histories. An in-depth analysis identified five key themes: (1) the nature of forensic medicine-participants used metaphors to describe the complexity, artistry, and investigative nature of their work; (2) the professional identity of forensic doctors-how they develop a sense of duty, ethical commitment, and professional resilience throughout their careers; (3) core resources needed to be a forensic doctor-the role of mentorship, specialized skills, and coping strategies in sustaining their careers; (4) what does death have to teach?-the personal impact of continuous exposure to death, shaping their perspectives on life and mortality; (5) esse cum-the challenges, stigma, and stereotypes forensic doctors face in their interactions with colleagues, legal professionals, and society. This study explores the professional identities and coping mechanisms of forensic doctors, revealing that despite facing stigma, emotional strain, and burnout, they find meaning in their work, emphasizing justice and resilience.