Tales From The Morgue

Dead bodies tell tales. Sometimes they claim for Justice. Sometimes they beg for peace. Sometimes they even teach you how to live. I am one of the very few who can hear them talking. It's not that I have extra sensorial powers. It's what I do everyday for a living: I'm a forensic specialist.

You wouldn't believe the things I've seen and learned from working for more than eleven years as the forensic Doctor in Chief at the Official Morgue of Buenos Aires, Argentine. I've performed more than 10,000 autopsies so far, from a famous cardiologist who, ironically enough, killed himself by shooting a gun against his heart- to the daughter of a good friend of mine. Experiences like these have taught several lessons and that's why I want to share what I've heard dead people say.

You might be wondering how come I became a forensic doctor. Well, I always wanted to be one. I know that is unusual, especially for a kid, but I had it clear long time before puberty.

My father was a famous physician. I used to talk to him, inquiring about his profession. I'd tell him I wanted to work in a Morgue when I grew up. He would look at me in disbelief and say, "Do you know what you are saying? Forensics work with dead people." And I would reply to him: "I know. That's good. That's what I want!"

Doing what I've always wanted hasn't been easy. Drama and pain are part of my daily routine and I have to admit that several times they have been something hard to handle. I remember, for example, when I had to perform an autopsy on a colleague of mine.