Forensic Pathologist Philipp Möller: What the Dead Reveal About Life
Forensic pathologist Philipp Möller from Berlin has arguably one of the most fascinating medical professions. In this interview, he explains what medical findings reveal about life, diseases, and accidents—and why these insights are important for prevention and societal understanding. Philipp Möller is a speaker at Health Day 2026. In his keynote address, he will show what traces our lifestyle leaves on the body—and how to cope with the psychological stresses of the profession. Interview: Simone Bohny / Christin Müller, Photo: Christoph Harms
"My work regularly reminds me of how quickly a life can change or come to an end." (Philipp Möller)
When you tell people at a party that you're a forensic pathologist, what's the question you're asked most often?
The most common question is probably, “What was your worst case?” Closely followed by, “Is it really like on *Tatort*?” And sooner or later, the question almost always comes up: Do you get used to the smell? The honest answer is: You get used to a lot of things, but not everything. And maybe that’s for the best. I want to do my job professionally, but I don’t want to become completely desensitized.
Many people are familiar with forensic medicine mainly from crime shows or true-crime podcasts. How closely do shows like “Tatort” and “CSI” actually reflect your day-to-day work?
Some things are surprisingly well researched, while others have absolutely nothing to do with our everyday lives. The biggest misconception is probably that we solve every case completely within a few hours—and all on our own.
In TV shows, there’s often an autopsy, a spectacular single finding, and shortly thereafter, the killer is identified. In reality, forensic medicine is often much more detailed. We document findings, collect evidence, wait for toxicological or histological test results, and piece together many individual pieces of information.
Furthermore, we do not solve murder cases. We provide medical findings and their professional interpretation. The police and the district attorney’s office conduct the investigations.
Sometimes even an unremarkable finding can be very important. This is fascinating from a scientific perspective, but on TV it might seem less dramatic than a forensic pathologist peering intently through a microscope.
True crime is booming. In your experience, what is it about real-life criminal cases that fascinates people so much? Where would you like to see fiction and reality more clearly separated?
I believe that people want to understand how something so extraordinary and threatening can happen. Criminal cases raise fundamental questions: How safe is our world? How well do we know other people? Could something have been detected or prevented?
True crime also often offers a seemingly straightforward narrative with a beginning, a crime, and a resolution. Real life, however, is often more complicated. Not every case can be fully explained, and not every question is answered.
It can become problematic when a real-life tragedy is treated merely as thrilling entertainment, or when only the smallest details are singled out and dramatized. Behind every case are people who have died, those who have been injured, their loved ones, and people whose lives may have been permanently altered.
That’s why I sometimes wish there were a clearer distinction between objective reporting and sensationalist coverage. It’s possible to tell a compelling story about a case without completely losing sight of the people involved.
What fascinates you personally about forensic medicine?
I am fascinated by the intersection of medicine, science, law, and social responsibility. We don’t just work at the autopsy table. We also examine living victims of violence and suspects, assess injuries, reconstruct the sequence of events, and explain medical findings in court.
What I find particularly fascinating is that we have to use objective findings to develop answers to very specific questions. What happened? When did it happen? Does an injury fit the described sequence of events? Can a medical condition explain the death? And yet, hardly any two cases are alike.
Even after many years, there are still situations where you see something for the first time or have to reinterpret a finding that initially seems unremarkable. This careful examination and the process of piecing together many small pieces of information continue to fascinate me to this day.
You say that the human body tells many stories. In your experience, what signs or findings reveal the most about a person’s life?
The body bears traces of illnesses, injuries, medical treatments, and sometimes even lifestyle habits. Scars, for example, can tell the story of past surgeries or accidents. Changes in organs and blood vessels can indicate long-standing illnesses. Even healed broken bones or older injuries can reveal something about a person’s medical history.
However, one must be cautious. A single finding rarely tells the whole story. What matters is the big picture: the body, the medical records, the circumstances of death, and the results of further examinations.
The title of your talk is “What We Can Learn from the Dead.” What can the deceased actually teach the living?
The deceased can initially help us in very concrete ways to investigate causes of death. We can identify illnesses, pinpoint risks, and sometimes even determine whether medical treatments or external factors played a role.
In addition, findings from forensic medicine can contribute to prevention. For example, we learn about the mechanisms of accidents, violence, substance use disorders, suicides, and the consequences of undiagnosed illnesses. This knowledge can help reduce risks to other people.
For me, there’s also a social dimension to this. Death often reveals where people have been overlooked, where protective measures have failed, or where health and social problems have long gone unnoticed.
The dead can no longer speak for themselves. It is therefore our task to analyze and interpret the findings and, if possible, to learn from them.
Your job brings you into contact with people facing difficult circumstances every day. How do you manage to find a healthy balance?
Professional distance is necessary so that I can work reliably and evaluate findings objectively. For me, however, it does not mean indifference or working like a robot.
In forensic medicine in particular, it is essential to combine both scientific precision and an awareness that one is dealing with a human being and that person’s fate. This applies equally to the deceased and to examinations of living victims of violence.
Empathy doesn't always show itself in grand gestures. It also shows itself in carefully examining the situation, communicating respectfully, and not jumping to conclusions. Professional accuracy is, after all, a form of respect as well.
Has your work changed your outlook on life?
My work regularly reminds me of how quickly a life can change or come to an end. That doesn’t mean I go through life in a constant state of gloom—quite the opposite, in fact. I try to be more mindful of the beautiful and everyday things in life. Spending time with my husband, our dog, my family, and my friends is very important to me.
I also try not to put things off indefinitely. Of course, that doesn't always work out. Even forensic pathologists sometimes don't reply to emails until three days later. I believe that my work helps me focus on what's truly important.
Many conflicts and supposedly major problems seem smaller when you experience firsthand every day just how fragile life is. At the same time, you learn that a zest for life and reflecting on death don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
People who reflect on the finiteness of life sometimes gain a better understanding of why we should make the most of life and enjoy it.
