ABMDI 2025/2026 Medicolegal Death Investigator
Exam Verified Practice Questions with Detailed
correct answers
ANECEPHALIC - CORRECT ANSWER-An infant born without a brain
BEREAVEMENT - CORRECT ANSWER-Sorrow following the death of a loved one
BRAIN DEATH - CORRECT ANSWER-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 - CORRECT ANSWER-Final cessation of activity in the cardiovascular system involving
the heart and blood vessels
CESSATION - CORRECT ANSWER-The final stoppage of action
CORONER - CORRECT ANSWER-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 - CORRECT ANSWER-The power of authority a court or office has over individuals or
trauma
LNOK - CORRECT ANSWER-The person from whom the medicolegal death investigator must secure
consent before initiating any procurement activity
MEDICAL EXAMINER - CORRECT ANSWER-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) - CORRECT ANSWER-The agency responsible for identifying
potential donors, obtaining consent, and procuring organs
,POSTMORTEM CHANGES - CORRECT ANSWER-Alterations of the body following death, including
decomposition and environmental resuscitative injuries
STATUTES - CORRECT ANSWER-Laws enacted by the legislative branch of government
VERIFY - CORRECT ANSWER-Establish or confirm the accuracy of information or evidence through
testimony
VITAL STATISTICS - CORRECT ANSWER-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 - CORRECT ANSWER-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 - CORRECT ANSWER-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 - CORRECT ANSWER-B
YourpofficepispinvestigatingpapsuspectedpSIDSpdeath.pYoupshouldpnotifypyourpstatewidepSIDSpprogram:p
A.pASAPpfollowingpthepautopsy
B.pwithinp24phourspofpthepdeath
C.pwithinp48phourspofpthepdeath
D.pwithinp72phourspofpthepdeath
E.pwithinponepweekpofpthepdeathp-pCORRECTpANSWER-A
Inpgeneral,pwhichpofpthepfollowingparepNOTpnormallypforporgan/tissuepprocurementppurposes?
A.pliverpandpkidneys
B.plongpbonespandppelvis
C.preproductiveporgans
D.pheartpvalves
E.ppancreaspandpskinp-pCORRECTpANSWER-C
Authorizationpforporgan/tissuepprocurementpispconsideredpvalidpifp:p
A.papdonorpdesignationpappearsponpthepdecedent'spdriversplicense
B.papdonorpcardpwithpthepdecedent'spnamepispfoundpinphis/herpwalletporppursep
C.panpemergencyproompphysicianpgivesppermission
D.pthepdecedent'spLNOKporprepphaspgivenpconsent
E.pnopLNOKpcanpbeplocatedp-pCORRECTpANSWER-D
Thepdeathpinvestigatorpandpappolicepofficerparrivepatpthepscenepwithinpminutespofpeachpother:p
A.pTheppolicepofficerpispinpchargepandpdirectspthepwork
B.pThepdeathpinvestigatorpispinpchargepandpdirectspthepwork
Exam Verified Practice Questions with Detailed
correct answers
ANECEPHALIC - CORRECT ANSWER-An infant born without a brain
BEREAVEMENT - CORRECT ANSWER-Sorrow following the death of a loved one
BRAIN DEATH - CORRECT ANSWER-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 - CORRECT ANSWER-Final cessation of activity in the cardiovascular system involving
the heart and blood vessels
CESSATION - CORRECT ANSWER-The final stoppage of action
CORONER - CORRECT ANSWER-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 - CORRECT ANSWER-The power of authority a court or office has over individuals or
trauma
LNOK - CORRECT ANSWER-The person from whom the medicolegal death investigator must secure
consent before initiating any procurement activity
MEDICAL EXAMINER - CORRECT ANSWER-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) - CORRECT ANSWER-The agency responsible for identifying
potential donors, obtaining consent, and procuring organs
,POSTMORTEM CHANGES - CORRECT ANSWER-Alterations of the body following death, including
decomposition and environmental resuscitative injuries
STATUTES - CORRECT ANSWER-Laws enacted by the legislative branch of government
VERIFY - CORRECT ANSWER-Establish or confirm the accuracy of information or evidence through
testimony
VITAL STATISTICS - CORRECT ANSWER-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 - CORRECT ANSWER-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 - CORRECT ANSWER-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 - CORRECT ANSWER-B
YourpofficepispinvestigatingpapsuspectedpSIDSpdeath.pYoupshouldpnotifypyourpstatewidepSIDSpprogram:p
A.pASAPpfollowingpthepautopsy
B.pwithinp24phourspofpthepdeath
C.pwithinp48phourspofpthepdeath
D.pwithinp72phourspofpthepdeath
E.pwithinponepweekpofpthepdeathp-pCORRECTpANSWER-A
Inpgeneral,pwhichpofpthepfollowingparepNOTpnormallypforporgan/tissuepprocurementppurposes?
A.pliverpandpkidneys
B.plongpbonespandppelvis
C.preproductiveporgans
D.pheartpvalves
E.ppancreaspandpskinp-pCORRECTpANSWER-C
Authorizationpforporgan/tissuepprocurementpispconsideredpvalidpifp:p
A.papdonorpdesignationpappearsponpthepdecedent'spdriversplicense
B.papdonorpcardpwithpthepdecedent'spnamepispfoundpinphis/herpwalletporppursep
C.panpemergencyproompphysicianpgivesppermission
D.pthepdecedent'spLNOKporprepphaspgivenpconsent
E.pnopLNOKpcanpbeplocatedp-pCORRECTpANSWER-D
Thepdeathpinvestigatorpandpappolicepofficerparrivepatpthepscenepwithinpminutespofpeachpother:p
A.pTheppolicepofficerpispinpchargepandpdirectspthepwork
B.pThepdeathpinvestigatorpispinpchargepandpdirectspthepwork
