ABMDI EXAM SCRIPT COLLECTION 2026
COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS
◉ When investigating a death, it is best to:
A.work alone on the investigation.
B.not listen to others or ask questions.
C.use all available resources.
D.disregard how problems affect personnel.
E.assume control of the scene immediately upon arrival. Answer:
B.the medical examiner/coroner office policy derived from state
statutory authority.
◉ A good point to remember regarding report writing is that:
A.good report writing is a skill that comes naturally; some have it,
whereas others will never have it.
B.information is of little use unless it is properly documented and
communicated to others.
C.organization of the report is more important than the information
contained in the report.
D.abbreviations and acronyms are important "shortcuts" to good,
efficient report writing.
,E.the more medical terminology the better. Answer: B.information is
of little use unless it is properly documented and communicated to
others.
◉ If you are called to a hospital's emergency department to begin
the medicolegal death investigation of a death caused by a firearm,
the medicolegal "scene" is:
A.the emergency department.
B.the emergency department and any part of the hospital leading
from the street to the room.
C.the whole hospital.
D.any location the decedent may have been prior to death.
E.any location the decedent may have been within the past 24 hours.
Answer: A.the emergency department.
◉ State systems, or states with a "State Medical Examiner" typically
investigate:
A.all deaths that occur within their national "region" (i.e.,
southwestern, northeastern, etc.)
B.all deaths that occur within their state.
C.all deaths within their state that fall under statute.
D.all deaths within their county.
E.all deaths that occur on federal property within the state. Answer:
C.all deaths within their state that fall under statute.
,◉ You work as an investigator for the medical examiner's office. The
local high school sociology teacher has invited you to give a
presentation on "medicolegal death investigation." Which ONE of the
following topics would be MOST appropriate?
A."Autoerotic Deaths"
B."Suicide by Police"
C."Animal Deaths"
D."The Role of the Medical Examiner"
E."Turf Wars - Medical Examiner Investigators vs. Law Enforcement"
Answer: D."The Role of the Medical Examiner"
◉ Proper distribution and use of investigative reports include all of
the following EXCEPT which ONE?
A.preparing cases for court.
B.keeping other involved parties informed.
C.anticipating future needs for information.
D.providing medical information to the news media.
E.helping a forensic pathologist determine the cause and manner of
death. Answer: D.providing medical information to the news media.
◉ A recent infant death you investigated has been termed a SIDS
death on the preliminary autopsy report. You, as the investigator,
must contact:
, A.the police chaplain who will relay the findings to the family.
B.the local SIDS Center and the local police agency.
C.the local police agency; wait on calling the SIDS center until the
cause of death has been finalized.
D.child protection services.
E.the district attorney's office. Answer: B.the local SIDS Center and
the local police agency.
◉ When one is writing descriptive information about a death scene,
the name, address, and telephone number of the decedent are all
part of the _____________ to be included in the case file.
A.family history information
B.chronological data
C.demographic information
D.medical data
E.graphic information Answer: C.demographic information
◉ The public information officer (PIO) for your jurisdiction requests
information regarding an investigation for exclusive release. The
investigator should:
A.advise the PIO of office policy and decline to provide information
that would not otherwise be provided to other news agencies.
COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS
◉ When investigating a death, it is best to:
A.work alone on the investigation.
B.not listen to others or ask questions.
C.use all available resources.
D.disregard how problems affect personnel.
E.assume control of the scene immediately upon arrival. Answer:
B.the medical examiner/coroner office policy derived from state
statutory authority.
◉ A good point to remember regarding report writing is that:
A.good report writing is a skill that comes naturally; some have it,
whereas others will never have it.
B.information is of little use unless it is properly documented and
communicated to others.
C.organization of the report is more important than the information
contained in the report.
D.abbreviations and acronyms are important "shortcuts" to good,
efficient report writing.
,E.the more medical terminology the better. Answer: B.information is
of little use unless it is properly documented and communicated to
others.
◉ If you are called to a hospital's emergency department to begin
the medicolegal death investigation of a death caused by a firearm,
the medicolegal "scene" is:
A.the emergency department.
B.the emergency department and any part of the hospital leading
from the street to the room.
C.the whole hospital.
D.any location the decedent may have been prior to death.
E.any location the decedent may have been within the past 24 hours.
Answer: A.the emergency department.
◉ State systems, or states with a "State Medical Examiner" typically
investigate:
A.all deaths that occur within their national "region" (i.e.,
southwestern, northeastern, etc.)
B.all deaths that occur within their state.
C.all deaths within their state that fall under statute.
D.all deaths within their county.
E.all deaths that occur on federal property within the state. Answer:
C.all deaths within their state that fall under statute.
,◉ You work as an investigator for the medical examiner's office. The
local high school sociology teacher has invited you to give a
presentation on "medicolegal death investigation." Which ONE of the
following topics would be MOST appropriate?
A."Autoerotic Deaths"
B."Suicide by Police"
C."Animal Deaths"
D."The Role of the Medical Examiner"
E."Turf Wars - Medical Examiner Investigators vs. Law Enforcement"
Answer: D."The Role of the Medical Examiner"
◉ Proper distribution and use of investigative reports include all of
the following EXCEPT which ONE?
A.preparing cases for court.
B.keeping other involved parties informed.
C.anticipating future needs for information.
D.providing medical information to the news media.
E.helping a forensic pathologist determine the cause and manner of
death. Answer: D.providing medical information to the news media.
◉ A recent infant death you investigated has been termed a SIDS
death on the preliminary autopsy report. You, as the investigator,
must contact:
, A.the police chaplain who will relay the findings to the family.
B.the local SIDS Center and the local police agency.
C.the local police agency; wait on calling the SIDS center until the
cause of death has been finalized.
D.child protection services.
E.the district attorney's office. Answer: B.the local SIDS Center and
the local police agency.
◉ When one is writing descriptive information about a death scene,
the name, address, and telephone number of the decedent are all
part of the _____________ to be included in the case file.
A.family history information
B.chronological data
C.demographic information
D.medical data
E.graphic information Answer: C.demographic information
◉ The public information officer (PIO) for your jurisdiction requests
information regarding an investigation for exclusive release. The
investigator should:
A.advise the PIO of office policy and decline to provide information
that would not otherwise be provided to other news agencies.
