ABMDI SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM STUDY GUIDE
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
●● Manner of Death
Answer: A classification of death based on how the cause of death was
brought into play, with the typical options being natural, accident,
suicide, homicide, or undetermined
●● Cause of Death Statement (Part I)
Answer: Immediate cause of death
Intermediary cause of death
Underlying cause of death
●● Immediate Cause of Death
Answer: The condition that was last to occur, immediately resulted in
the death, and was the result of the underlying cause of death
●● Intermediary Cause of Death
Answer: A condition that was caused by the underlying cause of death
and resulted in the immediate cause of death or another intermediary
cause of death
,●● Underlying Cause of Death
Answer: The condition (disease or injury) that started the downhill
course of events leading to death
●● Cause of Death Statement (Part II)
Answer: Other significant conditions
●● Other Significant Conditions
Answer: Usually consist of co-existing co-morbid conditions or
additional complications of the underlying cause of death, which were
less important than those listed in Part I
●● Terminal Events
Answer: Final common pathways of death and include such things as
cardiopulmonary arrest, asystole, ventricular fibrillation, respiratory
arrest, and electromechanical dissociation (typically, these should not be
listed on a death certificate because they are so common and non-
specific)
●● Nonspecific Anatomic Processes (NAP's)
Answer: Consist of anatomic findings and include such things as
pneumonia and cirrhosis, each of which has multiple underlying causes,
and which may be reported on the death certificate using specific
guidelines
,●● Nonspecific Physiologic Derangements (NPD's)
Answer: Nonanatomical findings and include such things as
hyperkalemia and hypoglycemia, each of which has multiple possible
underlying causes, and which may be reported on the death certificate
using specific guidelines
●● An individual had insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. He recently
obtained cerebral artery arteriosclerosis which caused him to be in a
bedridden state from a previous stroke. Because he was bedridden, he
obtained infected decubitus ulcers that caused him to obtain systemic
sepsis and died. How should the death certificate be written?
Answer: Part I:
a. Systemic sepsis
b. Due to: Infected decubitus ulcers
c. Due to: Bedridden state from previous stroke
d. Due to: Cerebral artery arteriosclerosis
Part II:
OSC: Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
●● An individual was a chronic alcoholic who obtained cirrhosis of the
liver. He then had ruptured esophageal varices and died. How should the
death certificate be written?
Answer: Part I:
a. Ruptured esophageal varices
, b. Due to: Cirrhosis of the liver
c. Due to: Chronic alcoholism
d. Due to:
Part II:
OSC:
●● An individual obtained metastatic carcinoma of the prostate and died.
How should the death certificate be written?
Answer: Part I:
a. Metastatic carcinoma of prostate
b. Due to:
c. Due to:
d: Due to:
Part II:
OSC:
●● An individual had a past medical history of cryptococcal
myocarditis. He recently acquired immune deficiency syndrome and
obtained pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and died. How should the
death certificate be written?
Answer: Part I:
a. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
b. Due to: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM STUDY GUIDE
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
●● Manner of Death
Answer: A classification of death based on how the cause of death was
brought into play, with the typical options being natural, accident,
suicide, homicide, or undetermined
●● Cause of Death Statement (Part I)
Answer: Immediate cause of death
Intermediary cause of death
Underlying cause of death
●● Immediate Cause of Death
Answer: The condition that was last to occur, immediately resulted in
the death, and was the result of the underlying cause of death
●● Intermediary Cause of Death
Answer: A condition that was caused by the underlying cause of death
and resulted in the immediate cause of death or another intermediary
cause of death
,●● Underlying Cause of Death
Answer: The condition (disease or injury) that started the downhill
course of events leading to death
●● Cause of Death Statement (Part II)
Answer: Other significant conditions
●● Other Significant Conditions
Answer: Usually consist of co-existing co-morbid conditions or
additional complications of the underlying cause of death, which were
less important than those listed in Part I
●● Terminal Events
Answer: Final common pathways of death and include such things as
cardiopulmonary arrest, asystole, ventricular fibrillation, respiratory
arrest, and electromechanical dissociation (typically, these should not be
listed on a death certificate because they are so common and non-
specific)
●● Nonspecific Anatomic Processes (NAP's)
Answer: Consist of anatomic findings and include such things as
pneumonia and cirrhosis, each of which has multiple underlying causes,
and which may be reported on the death certificate using specific
guidelines
,●● Nonspecific Physiologic Derangements (NPD's)
Answer: Nonanatomical findings and include such things as
hyperkalemia and hypoglycemia, each of which has multiple possible
underlying causes, and which may be reported on the death certificate
using specific guidelines
●● An individual had insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. He recently
obtained cerebral artery arteriosclerosis which caused him to be in a
bedridden state from a previous stroke. Because he was bedridden, he
obtained infected decubitus ulcers that caused him to obtain systemic
sepsis and died. How should the death certificate be written?
Answer: Part I:
a. Systemic sepsis
b. Due to: Infected decubitus ulcers
c. Due to: Bedridden state from previous stroke
d. Due to: Cerebral artery arteriosclerosis
Part II:
OSC: Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
●● An individual was a chronic alcoholic who obtained cirrhosis of the
liver. He then had ruptured esophageal varices and died. How should the
death certificate be written?
Answer: Part I:
a. Ruptured esophageal varices
, b. Due to: Cirrhosis of the liver
c. Due to: Chronic alcoholism
d. Due to:
Part II:
OSC:
●● An individual obtained metastatic carcinoma of the prostate and died.
How should the death certificate be written?
Answer: Part I:
a. Metastatic carcinoma of prostate
b. Due to:
c. Due to:
d: Due to:
Part II:
OSC:
●● An individual had a past medical history of cryptococcal
myocarditis. He recently acquired immune deficiency syndrome and
obtained pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and died. How should the
death certificate be written?
Answer: Part I:
a. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
b. Due to: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
