My World: Thailand's 'Dr Death'

The extraordinary story of Thailand's leading forensic scientist who has turned a straightforward autopsy into a battleground for the truth.

Pornthip Rojanasunan, also known as ‘Dr Death' is notorious, not just for her punk outfits and spiky red hair, but for her findings in murder cases which often contradict those of the Thai police and sometimes point to their involvement.

She has been ridiculed and even subjected to death threats as she has tried to modernise the corrupt and inefficient Thai police.

A passionate advocate of human rights, Pornthip's work has been honoured by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who gave her the title 'Khunying', which is the Thai equivalent of Dame.

Pornthip became famous a decade ago when one of her own medical students was murdered.

Police claimed that the student was killed by thugs, but Pornthip's analysis revealed that the girl's boyfriend had dissected her body into 168 bits and flushed them down the toilet.

Television pictures showing the brave forensic doctor trawling through the sewer in search of the young woman's remains became indelible images in the public eye, and led to a series of true crime books she has written based on her cases.

Dr Pornthip is now lobbying the government to set up a national institute for missing persons and feels that this is now her greatest ambition.

Listen to her as she talks about her own battle with cancer, her love of cooking and why she believes the spirits of the dead have become her guardian angels.

First broadcast Friday 12th June 2009