ABMDI – D EXAM 2025 – 2026 WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
ANECEPHALIC - An infant born without a brain
BEREAVEMENT - Sorrow following the death of a loved one
BRAIN DEATH - Final cessation of activity in the central nervous system, as indicated
by a flat EEG or absence of cerebral blood flow for a predetermined period of time
CARDIAC DEATH - Final cessation of activity in the cardiovascular system involving
the heart and blood vessels
CESSATION - The final stoppage of action
CORONER - Typically an elected official who decides whether a death occurred under
circumstances that require an autopsy, either by law or to determine manner or
cause.
JURISDICTION - The power of authority a court or office has over individuals or
trauma
LNOK - The person from whom the medicolegal death investigator must secure
consent before initiating any procurement activity
MEDICAL EXAMINER - Usually a medical doctor, although not necessary a highly
trained pathologist. Like a coroner, a ME decides whether a death occurred under
circumstances that may require an autopsy and who will perform it if the ME is not
qualified.
OPO (organ procurement organization) - The agency responsible for identifying
potential donors, obtaining consent, and procuring organs
POSTMORTEM CHANGES - Alterations of the body following death, including
decomposition and environmental resuscitative injuries
STATUTES - Laws enacted by the legislative branch of government
VERIFY - Establish or confirm the accuracy of information or evidence through
testimony
VITAL STATISTICS - A gov't agency responsible for maintaining a system of
registration and release of records for the public, including birth, marriage, divorce,
an death
,Official pronouncement of death can :
A. be accomplished only by a physician
B. be accomplished by any medical professional
C. be accomplished by any responsible party
D. be accomplished by on-duty police officiers
E. be determined by state statue and local customs - E.
Authorization to conduct a medicolegal autopsy must be provided by:
A. the decedent's NOK
B. the coroner or ME when jurisdiction is esetablished
C. a will or other document signed before death
D. the treating physician
E. all of the above - B
A previously healthy four-month-old infant is found unresponsive in his crib at
home. He is rushed to a hospital, where he is maintained on a respirator for 26 hours
before being declared dead. No external trauma or disease is noted by the treating
physician:
A. the coroner is without jurisdiction because of hospitalization
B. The coroner has jurisdiction because of the unexplained death of an infant
C. The coroner has jurisdiction because of length of hospitalization
D. The absence of trauma precludes the coroner's having jurisdiction
E. Significant trauma will always be apparent on the surface of the body - B
Your office is investigating a suspected SIDS death. You should notify your statewide
SIDS program:
A. ASAP following the autopsy
B. within 24 hours of the death
C. within 48 hours of the death
D. within 72 hours of the death
E. within one week of the death - A
In general, which of the following are NOT normally for organ/tissue procurement
purposes?
A. liver and kidneys
B. long bones and pelvis
C. reproductive organs
D. heart valves
E. pancreas and skin - C
Authorization for organ/tissue procurement is considered valid if :
A. a donor designation appears on the decedent's drivers license
B. a donor card with the decedent's name is found in his/her wallet or purse
C. an emergency room physician gives permission
D. the decedent's LNOK or rep has given consent
E. no LNOK can be located - D
, The death investigator and a police officer arrive at the scene within minutes of each
other:
A. The police officer is in charge and directs the work
B. The death investigator is in charge and directs the work
C. The best approach is a "team" approach to performing the work
D. Each has specific responsibilities to perform, and they should not interact
E. Work together only if necessary; you represent different agencies - C
In constructing a narrative report, the main idea is to relate:
A. your involvement in the case
B. the main reason for the death
C. an overall and concise view of what happened
D. how the deceased was identifed
E. background info regarding the condition of the body - C
Choose one of the MOST important communication skills for gathering info at the
scene:
A. talk to all neighbors
B. listen and actively study witnesses
C. write down your thoughts
D. avoid eye contact with suspects
E. none of the above - B
The pathologist must be alerted to religious requests from the family:
A. before the victim's body is taken from the hospital
B. after the autopsy, before the body is taken to the FH
C. only if religion requires it
D. before the autopsy is performed
E. before the victim's body is taken from the scene - D
When communicating with the pathologist, a good investigator distinguishes
between a request for info and a request for an opinion. Which type is the following
question: "What time was the death pronounced?"
A. request for an opinion
B. request for info
C. request for info and opinion
D. request for assistance
E. none of the above - B
ANTEMORTEM BLOOD SAMPLE - An initial blood sample that usually is obtained
when the subject arrives at the hospital ER, before additional diagnostic or
therapeutic treatment is initiated
AUTHORIZATION - Official permission granted by a superior
ANECEPHALIC - An infant born without a brain
BEREAVEMENT - Sorrow following the death of a loved one
BRAIN DEATH - Final cessation of activity in the central nervous system, as indicated
by a flat EEG or absence of cerebral blood flow for a predetermined period of time
CARDIAC DEATH - Final cessation of activity in the cardiovascular system involving
the heart and blood vessels
CESSATION - The final stoppage of action
CORONER - Typically an elected official who decides whether a death occurred under
circumstances that require an autopsy, either by law or to determine manner or
cause.
JURISDICTION - The power of authority a court or office has over individuals or
trauma
LNOK - The person from whom the medicolegal death investigator must secure
consent before initiating any procurement activity
MEDICAL EXAMINER - Usually a medical doctor, although not necessary a highly
trained pathologist. Like a coroner, a ME decides whether a death occurred under
circumstances that may require an autopsy and who will perform it if the ME is not
qualified.
OPO (organ procurement organization) - The agency responsible for identifying
potential donors, obtaining consent, and procuring organs
POSTMORTEM CHANGES - Alterations of the body following death, including
decomposition and environmental resuscitative injuries
STATUTES - Laws enacted by the legislative branch of government
VERIFY - Establish or confirm the accuracy of information or evidence through
testimony
VITAL STATISTICS - A gov't agency responsible for maintaining a system of
registration and release of records for the public, including birth, marriage, divorce,
an death
,Official pronouncement of death can :
A. be accomplished only by a physician
B. be accomplished by any medical professional
C. be accomplished by any responsible party
D. be accomplished by on-duty police officiers
E. be determined by state statue and local customs - E.
Authorization to conduct a medicolegal autopsy must be provided by:
A. the decedent's NOK
B. the coroner or ME when jurisdiction is esetablished
C. a will or other document signed before death
D. the treating physician
E. all of the above - B
A previously healthy four-month-old infant is found unresponsive in his crib at
home. He is rushed to a hospital, where he is maintained on a respirator for 26 hours
before being declared dead. No external trauma or disease is noted by the treating
physician:
A. the coroner is without jurisdiction because of hospitalization
B. The coroner has jurisdiction because of the unexplained death of an infant
C. The coroner has jurisdiction because of length of hospitalization
D. The absence of trauma precludes the coroner's having jurisdiction
E. Significant trauma will always be apparent on the surface of the body - B
Your office is investigating a suspected SIDS death. You should notify your statewide
SIDS program:
A. ASAP following the autopsy
B. within 24 hours of the death
C. within 48 hours of the death
D. within 72 hours of the death
E. within one week of the death - A
In general, which of the following are NOT normally for organ/tissue procurement
purposes?
A. liver and kidneys
B. long bones and pelvis
C. reproductive organs
D. heart valves
E. pancreas and skin - C
Authorization for organ/tissue procurement is considered valid if :
A. a donor designation appears on the decedent's drivers license
B. a donor card with the decedent's name is found in his/her wallet or purse
C. an emergency room physician gives permission
D. the decedent's LNOK or rep has given consent
E. no LNOK can be located - D
, The death investigator and a police officer arrive at the scene within minutes of each
other:
A. The police officer is in charge and directs the work
B. The death investigator is in charge and directs the work
C. The best approach is a "team" approach to performing the work
D. Each has specific responsibilities to perform, and they should not interact
E. Work together only if necessary; you represent different agencies - C
In constructing a narrative report, the main idea is to relate:
A. your involvement in the case
B. the main reason for the death
C. an overall and concise view of what happened
D. how the deceased was identifed
E. background info regarding the condition of the body - C
Choose one of the MOST important communication skills for gathering info at the
scene:
A. talk to all neighbors
B. listen and actively study witnesses
C. write down your thoughts
D. avoid eye contact with suspects
E. none of the above - B
The pathologist must be alerted to religious requests from the family:
A. before the victim's body is taken from the hospital
B. after the autopsy, before the body is taken to the FH
C. only if religion requires it
D. before the autopsy is performed
E. before the victim's body is taken from the scene - D
When communicating with the pathologist, a good investigator distinguishes
between a request for info and a request for an opinion. Which type is the following
question: "What time was the death pronounced?"
A. request for an opinion
B. request for info
C. request for info and opinion
D. request for assistance
E. none of the above - B
ANTEMORTEM BLOOD SAMPLE - An initial blood sample that usually is obtained
when the subject arrives at the hospital ER, before additional diagnostic or
therapeutic treatment is initiated
AUTHORIZATION - Official permission granted by a superior
