Dr Peter Dean explores forensic medicine in Film and Fiction at the 53rd Wade lecture
The 53rd Wade Lecture welcomed Dr Peter Dean to the Wade Conference Centre on 11 October 2023 for an engaging talk on “Forensic Medicine in Film and Fiction.”
A former HM Senior Coroner for Suffolk and Forensic Medical Examiner with the Metropolitan Police, Dr Dean brought decades of experience in forensic and legal medicine to an evening exploring the relationship between real-life forensic practice and its portrayal in books, television and film.
From Sherlock Holmes to modern Crime Drama
Crime fiction and television murder mysteries have long captured the public imagination, and Dr Dean’s lecture explored how forensic medicine has been represented throughout that history.
The talk looked at iconic figures including Sherlock Holmes, as well as the work of Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie, before moving on to more modern fictional investigators and medical examiners.
Drawing on his own experience advising television productions, Dr Dean also offered a behind-the-scenes perspective on how medical and forensic details are incorporated into crime dramas.
A distinguished career in Forensic Medicine
Dr Dean originally qualified in dentistry before going on to study medicine. After a period in dental surgery, he trained as a General Practitioner and later began working part time as a Forensic Medical Examiner, traditionally known as a police surgeon, with the Metropolitan Police in London.
His growing interest in forensic medicine and the law led him to complete a Master of Laws degree and pursue a career as a coroner.
For more than 25 years, he combined clinical forensic medicine in London with coronial work, eventually serving as Senior Coroner for Suffolk until his retirement in 2018.
Advising Television, Film and Authors
Dr Dean’s forensic expertise has also taken him into the world of entertainment.
He has advised on the forensic and medical aspects of numerous television drama series, including Silent Witness, Waking the Dead, Ripper Street, Killing Eve, Midsomer Murders, Unforgotten and Whitechapel.
His work has also included providing advice for productions such as Van Der Valk and Death on the Nile, helping writers and production teams bring greater realism to fictional investigations.
In addition to television and film, Dr Dean has advised authors including Kathy Reichs, Peter James and Jeffrey Archer.
The history of Coroners and Forensic Medicine
Alongside his clinical and advisory work, Dr Dean has a particular interest in the historical development of coroners and forensic medicine.
He is a Past President of both the Coroners’ Society of England and Wales and the Forensic and Legal Medicine Section of the Royal Society of Medicine.
His experience made the 53rd Wade Lecture a fascinating exploration of how forensic medicine has developed in reality and how it has been interpreted for popular entertainment.
The Wade Charitable Foundation was delighted to welcome Dr Peter Dean to the Wade Conference Centre for an informative and entertaining evening combining medicine, law, history and crime fiction.