ABMDI Scientific Knowledge – 2025/2026 Study
Guide with Verified Death Certification Scenarios,
Postmortem Changes, and Forensic
Terminology/ABMDI Scientific Knowledge.
Cause of Death
The disease, injury, or combination of conditions that leads to the death of the individual
Manner of Death
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)
Immediate cause of death
Intermediary cause of death
Underlying cause of death
Immediate Cause of Death
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
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
The condition (disease or injury) that started the downhill course of events leading to death
Cause of Death Statement (Part II)
Other significant conditions
Other Significant Conditions
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
,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)
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)
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?
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?
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?
, 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?
Part I:
a. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
b. Due to: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
c. Due to:
d. Due to:
Part II:
OSC: Cryptococcal myocarditis
(The myocarditis contributed to the death but did not result in the conditions shown in Part I)
An individual was involved in a traffic accident. He was the driver of the vehicle, lost control,
went left of the center and was struck head on by a sports utility vehicle. He obtained blunt
force trauma of thorax and had an atlanto-occipital dislocation and died. How should the death
certificate be written?
Part I:
a. Atlanto-occipital dislocation
b. Due to: Blunt force trauma of the head
c. Due to: Collision of motor vehicles
d. Due to:
Part II:
OSC: Blunt force trauma of thorax
Manner of Death: Accident
How Injury Occurred: Driver of car. Lost control. Went left of center. Struck head-on by sports
utility vehicle
Algor Mortis
Cooling of the body
Guide with Verified Death Certification Scenarios,
Postmortem Changes, and Forensic
Terminology/ABMDI Scientific Knowledge.
Cause of Death
The disease, injury, or combination of conditions that leads to the death of the individual
Manner of Death
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)
Immediate cause of death
Intermediary cause of death
Underlying cause of death
Immediate Cause of Death
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
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
The condition (disease or injury) that started the downhill course of events leading to death
Cause of Death Statement (Part II)
Other significant conditions
Other Significant Conditions
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
,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)
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)
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?
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?
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?
, 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?
Part I:
a. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
b. Due to: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
c. Due to:
d. Due to:
Part II:
OSC: Cryptococcal myocarditis
(The myocarditis contributed to the death but did not result in the conditions shown in Part I)
An individual was involved in a traffic accident. He was the driver of the vehicle, lost control,
went left of the center and was struck head on by a sports utility vehicle. He obtained blunt
force trauma of thorax and had an atlanto-occipital dislocation and died. How should the death
certificate be written?
Part I:
a. Atlanto-occipital dislocation
b. Due to: Blunt force trauma of the head
c. Due to: Collision of motor vehicles
d. Due to:
Part II:
OSC: Blunt force trauma of thorax
Manner of Death: Accident
How Injury Occurred: Driver of car. Lost control. Went left of center. Struck head-on by sports
utility vehicle
Algor Mortis
Cooling of the body
