GMS 6360 Final Exam questions with
complete solutions
The formal training period for a coroner can be less than 1 month. T/F - correct answer ✔✔True
A _____ is a physician who specializes in the investigation of sudden, unexpected and violent deaths. -
correct answer ✔✔Forensic Pathologist
The sole purpose of a forensic autopsy is to determine the cause of death. T/F - correct answer ✔✔False
A forensic pathologist is a subspecialist who is additionally an expert in forensic serology and DNA
technology. They also have a working knowledge of _____ - correct answer ✔✔Toxicology, Ballistics, and
Trace Evidence
The formal training period for a medical examiner includes a 4 year college degree, 4 years of medical
school and _______ years of training in pathology and forensic sciences. - correct answer ✔✔Five
The term _____ refers to a death classification as being natural, accident, suicide or homicide. - correct
answer ✔✔Manner of death
T/F - In 1720 forensic medicine was formally taught at German universities as part of education for
medical students. - correct answer ✔✔True
T/F - The rate of hospital autopsies has increased in the past 3 decades. - correct answer ✔✔False
T/F - A medical examiner is always a state licensed physician but a coroner is never a physician. - correct
answer ✔✔False
If the cause of death cannot be determined by a forensic pathologist then it is _____ on the medical
examiner's report. - correct answer ✔✔Listed "Undetermined"
, T/F - Samples of tissue, blood, and bodily fluids are frequently removed and retained further testing at
outside laboratories. - correct answer ✔✔True
T/F - If manner of death cannot be definitively determined at autopsy, that section of the report is left
blank. - correct answer ✔✔False
The _____ is defined as the classification of an individual's death. - correct answer ✔✔Manner of death
T/F - It is not always possible to determine manner of death. - correct answer ✔✔True
T/F - Radiographs are not a typical part of the forensic autopsy. - correct answer ✔✔False
The _____ is defined as the specific physiological change leading to the death of an individual. - correct
answer ✔✔Mechanism of death
_____ is an example of a mechanism of death. - correct answer ✔✔Cardiopulmonary arrest
A gunshot wound to the head is an example of a _____. - correct answer ✔✔Cause of death
T/F - The same cause of death can be associated with multiple manners of death. - correct answer
✔✔True
T/F - Trace evidence examination is not a typical part of the forensic autopsy. - correct answer ✔✔False
T/F - A thorough death investigation is for the sole benefit of the decedent. - correct answer ✔✔False
What is NOT a type of death that falls under the jurisdiction of the medical examiner or coroner? -
correct answer ✔✔Attended deaths
complete solutions
The formal training period for a coroner can be less than 1 month. T/F - correct answer ✔✔True
A _____ is a physician who specializes in the investigation of sudden, unexpected and violent deaths. -
correct answer ✔✔Forensic Pathologist
The sole purpose of a forensic autopsy is to determine the cause of death. T/F - correct answer ✔✔False
A forensic pathologist is a subspecialist who is additionally an expert in forensic serology and DNA
technology. They also have a working knowledge of _____ - correct answer ✔✔Toxicology, Ballistics, and
Trace Evidence
The formal training period for a medical examiner includes a 4 year college degree, 4 years of medical
school and _______ years of training in pathology and forensic sciences. - correct answer ✔✔Five
The term _____ refers to a death classification as being natural, accident, suicide or homicide. - correct
answer ✔✔Manner of death
T/F - In 1720 forensic medicine was formally taught at German universities as part of education for
medical students. - correct answer ✔✔True
T/F - The rate of hospital autopsies has increased in the past 3 decades. - correct answer ✔✔False
T/F - A medical examiner is always a state licensed physician but a coroner is never a physician. - correct
answer ✔✔False
If the cause of death cannot be determined by a forensic pathologist then it is _____ on the medical
examiner's report. - correct answer ✔✔Listed "Undetermined"
, T/F - Samples of tissue, blood, and bodily fluids are frequently removed and retained further testing at
outside laboratories. - correct answer ✔✔True
T/F - If manner of death cannot be definitively determined at autopsy, that section of the report is left
blank. - correct answer ✔✔False
The _____ is defined as the classification of an individual's death. - correct answer ✔✔Manner of death
T/F - It is not always possible to determine manner of death. - correct answer ✔✔True
T/F - Radiographs are not a typical part of the forensic autopsy. - correct answer ✔✔False
The _____ is defined as the specific physiological change leading to the death of an individual. - correct
answer ✔✔Mechanism of death
_____ is an example of a mechanism of death. - correct answer ✔✔Cardiopulmonary arrest
A gunshot wound to the head is an example of a _____. - correct answer ✔✔Cause of death
T/F - The same cause of death can be associated with multiple manners of death. - correct answer
✔✔True
T/F - Trace evidence examination is not a typical part of the forensic autopsy. - correct answer ✔✔False
T/F - A thorough death investigation is for the sole benefit of the decedent. - correct answer ✔✔False
What is NOT a type of death that falls under the jurisdiction of the medical examiner or coroner? -
correct answer ✔✔Attended deaths
