ABMDI: Practice Test Questions and answers

ME authority at a death scene comes from: A. The ME official office policy manual B. The ME office policy derived from state statutory authority C. The ME office policy derived from federal statutory authority D. The coroner official office policy manual E. The county board of supervisors B 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 C A good point to remember regarding report 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 B If you are called to a hospital's ER department to begin an investigation of a death caused by a firearm, the MEI "scene" is: A. The ER department B. The ER 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 A State systems, or states with a "State Medical Examiner" typically investigate: A. All deaths that occur within their national "region" 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 C 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 D Proper distribution and use of investigative reports include all of the following EXCEPT which ONE? A. Preparing cases for court B. Keeping other parties involved C. Anticipating future needs for information D. Providing medical information to the news media E. Helping a forensic pathologist determine the COD/MOD D A recent infant death you investigated has been termed a SIDS death on the preliminary autopsy report. You, as the investigator, must contact: A. Police chaplain who will relay the findings to the family B. The local SIDS Center and local police agency C. Local police agency; wait on calling the SIDS center until the COD has been finalized D. CPS E. DA's office B When one is writing descriptive information about a death scene, the name, address, and telephone number to the decedent are all part of the ___________ to be included in the case file. A. Family history info B. Chronological data C. Demographic info D. Medical data E. Graphic info C The public information officer (PIO) for your jurisdiction requests information regarding an investigation for exclusive release. The MEI should: A. Advise the PIO of office policy and decline to provide information that would not otherwise be provided to other news agencies B. Provide the information b/c the PIO understands your departmental policies and is usually fair in releasing info C. Advise the PIO of the info with added request that the info not be released until a later specified date D. Decline to provide info stating that the office will make its own news release at a later time E. None of the above A A funeral director contacts you concerning the death of a local physician's spouse. Upon discovering her dead, the physician called the funeral director and requested that the body be immediately removed to the funeral home. You should do all of the following EXCEPT: A. Follow your agency's policy consistent with home deaths B. Instruct the funeral director not to remove the body C. Explain your agency's home death procedures to the physician D. Verify the decedent's medical history E. Inquire whether the physician had marital problems E A businesswoman from out of town is found dead in her motel room, the victim of an apparent homicide. Personal items in the room reveal she is married and lives in an adjoining state. In order to notify her NOK, the MEI should: A. Telephone the husband and advise him of the death immediately, then dispatch local police to the husband's home B. Contact the law enforcement agency in the husband's jurisdiction. Ask them to send PD to the husband's residence and inform him of the death C. Request that the motel owner notify the NOK D. Send a priority mail package containing a notification letter E. Contact the Red Cross to notify the husband B The MEI and PD arrive at a death scene within minutes of each other. A. PD is in charge and directs the work B. MEI 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 Obtaining information about the decedent's medical history is a priority. When discussing this history with family members, which of the following is LEAST important to consider? A. Interview family members in the appropriate language B. Verification of the information received C. Avoid questions that may embarrass the family D. Consideration of language, cultural, religious and/or ethnic diversity of the family E. Verify medical personnel who recently treated the decedent C If the decedent is decomposed, mutilated, or burned beyond recognition and the family insists on viewing the body... the MEI should: A. Expedite the family's request for immediate viewing by taking them to the viewing area B. Refuse their request to view the remains under any circumstances C. Prepare the family before viewing with a verbal explanation and possibly photographs of the remains D. Gather all pertinent information from the family after they view the remains E. Explain to the family that the body is unrecognizable as they person they knew and they should hold the memories as they knew them C