The international community of forensic medicine and legal pathology mourns the passing of Professor Philip Swan-Lip Beh, who died on the evening of July 2, 2025, following a courageous battle with a long illness. Professor Beh was a distinguished forensic pathologist, a dedicated educator, and a compassionate advocate for the vulnerable. His contributions to forensic medicine in Hong Kong and beyond have left an enduring legacy.
Born in Penang in Malaysia, Professor Beh graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) in 1981. He devoted his entire professional career to forensic pathology. In 1995, he joined the Department of Pathology at HKU as a Clinical Associate Professor and later served as Principal Clinical Practitioner. Over more than four decades, he was recognized as an expert in handling complex and sensitive cases involving accidents, suicides, homicides, and intricate medico-legal matters. He was widely respected for his unwavering commitment to independent and objective case assessments.
Professor Beh’s research was equally groundbreaking. He co-developed the Hong Kong Homicide Monitoring Database and published extensively on topics including homicide-suicide patterns, sexual assault victimology, and the global decline in autopsy rates. His scholarly work was consistently marked by both scientific rigor and a deep concern for social justice. He was a recipient of the HKU Faculty Teaching Medal and continued his teaching until his final months.
In 1997, he co-founded RainLily, Hong Kong’s first multidisciplinary crisis centre for survivors of sexual violence. He also served as an Honorary Advisor to numerous organizations and collaborated with international institutions such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Professor Philip Beh was a highly regarded member of the International Academy of Legal Medicine, to which he contributed significantly through his insightful expertise and commitment.
The field of legal medicine has lost not only an outstanding scientist but also a profoundly humane individual.