FSC100 COMPREHENSIVE TEST SCRIPT
2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+
●● Early Development of Autopsy in Forensic Investigations.
Answer: 1507: Bamberg Code describes the first written records of
forensic pathology, included provisions related to the investigation of
crimes and highlighted the importance of medical evidence in death
cases
1530: Constitutio Criminalis Carolina (AKA Carolina)
- A more extensive and comprehensive penal code
- Aimed to standardize laws in the Holy Roman Empire
- Issued by Emperor Charles V.
- requiring a medical testimony be an integral part of the proof and trials
involving decisions regarding whether the death was a homicide, etc.
- Didn't specify performing a total autopsy but wounds were opened to
determine depth & direction
- First indication of "Some degree of expertise" - people needed to be
specialized in pathology
16th Century: Ambrose Pare performed medicolegal autopsies
, - Examined the lungs of smothered children to understand physiological
effects of different death
- Also studied the traces left by sexual assault
●● When do Forensic Pathologists Get Involved?.
Answer: 1. When the coroner is unable to answer any of the 5 questions
2. When there is a possibility of involvement in the criminal justice
system
●● Why do pathologists perform an autopsy?.
Answer: Two Main Reasons:
1. Discovery (cause & manner of death)
2. Documentation (details on injuries, diseases, etc.)
●● What is a forensic pathologist?.
Answer: - A medical doctor
- Specialist certifications in anatomical pathology and additional training
in forensic pathology
- Requires at least 14 years of university & postgrad training
- Most forensic pathologists also hold master's degrees or PhDs
- Has the knowledge of the effects of disease & injury on the body in the
context of the law
,●● The Pathologist Register.
Answer: 1. Category A (forensic pathologists)
- Can perform autopsies on all types of medicolegal cases
- This includes homicides and criminally suspicious adult and pediatric
cases
2. Category B (anatomical pathologists)
- Performs autoposies on non-homicide/non-criminally suspicious adult
cases
3. Category C (pediatric pathologists)
- Performs autopsies on non-homicide/non-criminally suspicious
pediatric cases
●● Cause of Death.
Answer: The actual trauma, event, disease or illness that triggers the
physiological process resulting in death (ex: asphyxia)
Can be immediate or underlying:
--> Immediate: the disease, injury, or complication directly preceding
death and which is the ultimate consequence of the underlying cause
--> Underlying: the disease or injury initiating the chain of events that
ultimately lead to the cessation of life
, ●● Mechanism of Death.
Answer: - The physiological or functional derangement resulting in
failure of one or more vital organs
- Usually doesn't require mention in death certificates
- Ex: cardiac arrhythmia, respiratory arrest, sepsis, multisystem organ
failure
●● Manner of death.
Answer: The means by which death occurred
Five manners: accident, suicide, homicide, natural, undetermined
●● Pending Cause of Death.
Answer: - The cause of death can be named as "pending" by the
pathologist if it is still unknown after the autopsy and there is a
possibility that further information may permit his/her determination of
the cause of death
- Indicates additional studies or investigations are needed, like
toxicology in drug related deaths
●● The Medico-Legal Autopsy.
Answer: - a medical investigation on behalf of greater society to
determine how and why its citizens die
- Performed under legislation of the Coroner's Act, NOT family consent.
2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+
●● Early Development of Autopsy in Forensic Investigations.
Answer: 1507: Bamberg Code describes the first written records of
forensic pathology, included provisions related to the investigation of
crimes and highlighted the importance of medical evidence in death
cases
1530: Constitutio Criminalis Carolina (AKA Carolina)
- A more extensive and comprehensive penal code
- Aimed to standardize laws in the Holy Roman Empire
- Issued by Emperor Charles V.
- requiring a medical testimony be an integral part of the proof and trials
involving decisions regarding whether the death was a homicide, etc.
- Didn't specify performing a total autopsy but wounds were opened to
determine depth & direction
- First indication of "Some degree of expertise" - people needed to be
specialized in pathology
16th Century: Ambrose Pare performed medicolegal autopsies
, - Examined the lungs of smothered children to understand physiological
effects of different death
- Also studied the traces left by sexual assault
●● When do Forensic Pathologists Get Involved?.
Answer: 1. When the coroner is unable to answer any of the 5 questions
2. When there is a possibility of involvement in the criminal justice
system
●● Why do pathologists perform an autopsy?.
Answer: Two Main Reasons:
1. Discovery (cause & manner of death)
2. Documentation (details on injuries, diseases, etc.)
●● What is a forensic pathologist?.
Answer: - A medical doctor
- Specialist certifications in anatomical pathology and additional training
in forensic pathology
- Requires at least 14 years of university & postgrad training
- Most forensic pathologists also hold master's degrees or PhDs
- Has the knowledge of the effects of disease & injury on the body in the
context of the law
,●● The Pathologist Register.
Answer: 1. Category A (forensic pathologists)
- Can perform autopsies on all types of medicolegal cases
- This includes homicides and criminally suspicious adult and pediatric
cases
2. Category B (anatomical pathologists)
- Performs autoposies on non-homicide/non-criminally suspicious adult
cases
3. Category C (pediatric pathologists)
- Performs autopsies on non-homicide/non-criminally suspicious
pediatric cases
●● Cause of Death.
Answer: The actual trauma, event, disease or illness that triggers the
physiological process resulting in death (ex: asphyxia)
Can be immediate or underlying:
--> Immediate: the disease, injury, or complication directly preceding
death and which is the ultimate consequence of the underlying cause
--> Underlying: the disease or injury initiating the chain of events that
ultimately lead to the cessation of life
, ●● Mechanism of Death.
Answer: - The physiological or functional derangement resulting in
failure of one or more vital organs
- Usually doesn't require mention in death certificates
- Ex: cardiac arrhythmia, respiratory arrest, sepsis, multisystem organ
failure
●● Manner of death.
Answer: The means by which death occurred
Five manners: accident, suicide, homicide, natural, undetermined
●● Pending Cause of Death.
Answer: - The cause of death can be named as "pending" by the
pathologist if it is still unknown after the autopsy and there is a
possibility that further information may permit his/her determination of
the cause of death
- Indicates additional studies or investigations are needed, like
toxicology in drug related deaths
●● The Medico-Legal Autopsy.
Answer: - a medical investigation on behalf of greater society to
determine how and why its citizens die
- Performed under legislation of the Coroner's Act, NOT family consent.
