January 2026 | ABMDI Certification Exam Prep Practice –
American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators | COMPLETE
Practice Questions with Verified Answers | Updated 2025–2026
Edition | High-Yield Study Guide for Medicolegal Death Investigator
Certification Exam Success
,Question 1:
Which of the following is the primary responsibility of a Medical Death
Investigator?
A) Conducting autopsies
B) Collecting comprehensive death scene information
C) Providing legal counsel
D) Determining the cause of death based solely on medical records
Correct Option: B) Collecting comprehensive death scene information
Rationale:
The primary responsibility of a Medical Death Investigator is to gather detailed
information at the death scene. This includes documenting the circumstances of the
death, collecting evidence, and ensuring that proper procedures are followed. While
conducting autopsies is a task for forensic pathologists, investigators focus on the
investigative aspect.
Question 2:
In cases of apparent sudden cardiac death, which of the following should be
considered as a potential contributing factor?
A) Drug overdose
B) Severe allergic reaction
C) Undiagnosed cardiovascular disease
D) All of the above
Correct Option: D) All of the above
Rationale:
Sudden cardiac death can occur due to various underlying conditions. Drug overdoses,
severe allergic reactions, and undiagnosed cardiovascular diseases can all contribute
to this tragic outcome. It's essential for investigators to consider a range of possibilities
during their examination to ensure thoroughness in the investigation.
Question 3:
What is the significance of the Chain of Custody in death investigations?
A) To ensure privacy for the deceased
B) To prevent contamination of evidence
C) To allow for cross-jurisdictional investigations
D) To simplify the investigative process
Correct Option: B) To prevent contamination of evidence
, Rationale:
The Chain of Custody is crucial as it ensures that all pieces of evidence remain
uncontaminated from the time they are collected until they are presented in court.
Maintaining this chain is fundamental for the credibility of the evidence and the integrity
of the investigation.
Question 4:
Which of the following is NOT a primary manner of death recognized in forensic
investigations?
A) Natural
B) Homicide
C) Suicide
D) Negligence
Correct Option: D) Negligence
Rationale:
The primary manners of death recognized in forensic investigations include natural,
homicide, suicide, and accidental. Negligence can be a contributing factor but is not
classified as a primary manner of death. Understanding these classifications is
essential for accurate reporting and legal implications.
Question 5:
When conducting a forensic interview with family members of the deceased, which
approach is most appropriate?
A) Direct questioning to extract facts
B) Open-ended questions to facilitate discussion
C) Avoiding confrontation at all costs
D) Focusing solely on timelines
Correct Option: B) Open-ended questions to facilitate discussion
Rationale:
Open-ended questions allow family members to express their thoughts and feelings,
providing richer context and information that might not emerge from direct questioning.
This method fosters a more cooperative atmosphere during the interview, which can
lead to valuable insights into the deceased's life and circumstances surrounding their
death.
Question 6:
What type of evidence is most critical in cases of alleged non-accidental child
deaths?
American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators | COMPLETE
Practice Questions with Verified Answers | Updated 2025–2026
Edition | High-Yield Study Guide for Medicolegal Death Investigator
Certification Exam Success
,Question 1:
Which of the following is the primary responsibility of a Medical Death
Investigator?
A) Conducting autopsies
B) Collecting comprehensive death scene information
C) Providing legal counsel
D) Determining the cause of death based solely on medical records
Correct Option: B) Collecting comprehensive death scene information
Rationale:
The primary responsibility of a Medical Death Investigator is to gather detailed
information at the death scene. This includes documenting the circumstances of the
death, collecting evidence, and ensuring that proper procedures are followed. While
conducting autopsies is a task for forensic pathologists, investigators focus on the
investigative aspect.
Question 2:
In cases of apparent sudden cardiac death, which of the following should be
considered as a potential contributing factor?
A) Drug overdose
B) Severe allergic reaction
C) Undiagnosed cardiovascular disease
D) All of the above
Correct Option: D) All of the above
Rationale:
Sudden cardiac death can occur due to various underlying conditions. Drug overdoses,
severe allergic reactions, and undiagnosed cardiovascular diseases can all contribute
to this tragic outcome. It's essential for investigators to consider a range of possibilities
during their examination to ensure thoroughness in the investigation.
Question 3:
What is the significance of the Chain of Custody in death investigations?
A) To ensure privacy for the deceased
B) To prevent contamination of evidence
C) To allow for cross-jurisdictional investigations
D) To simplify the investigative process
Correct Option: B) To prevent contamination of evidence
, Rationale:
The Chain of Custody is crucial as it ensures that all pieces of evidence remain
uncontaminated from the time they are collected until they are presented in court.
Maintaining this chain is fundamental for the credibility of the evidence and the integrity
of the investigation.
Question 4:
Which of the following is NOT a primary manner of death recognized in forensic
investigations?
A) Natural
B) Homicide
C) Suicide
D) Negligence
Correct Option: D) Negligence
Rationale:
The primary manners of death recognized in forensic investigations include natural,
homicide, suicide, and accidental. Negligence can be a contributing factor but is not
classified as a primary manner of death. Understanding these classifications is
essential for accurate reporting and legal implications.
Question 5:
When conducting a forensic interview with family members of the deceased, which
approach is most appropriate?
A) Direct questioning to extract facts
B) Open-ended questions to facilitate discussion
C) Avoiding confrontation at all costs
D) Focusing solely on timelines
Correct Option: B) Open-ended questions to facilitate discussion
Rationale:
Open-ended questions allow family members to express their thoughts and feelings,
providing richer context and information that might not emerge from direct questioning.
This method fosters a more cooperative atmosphere during the interview, which can
lead to valuable insights into the deceased's life and circumstances surrounding their
death.
Question 6:
What type of evidence is most critical in cases of alleged non-accidental child
deaths?
