ABMDI Assessment Questions and
Complete Solutions Graded A+
Which of the following MUST notify the coroner/ME promptly upon discovery of a suspicious death?
a. law enforcement official
b. funeral director
c. EMT or paramedic
d. ER room physician
e. all of the above - Answer: e. all of the above
A 35 year old white female, who was employed as a waitress, unexpectedly dies at work. An autopsy
confirms the cause of death as bacterial meningitis. Which of the following agencies must be notified
promptly?
a. emergency medical association
b. department of public health
c. department of OSHA
d. department of children and family services
e. food and drug administration - Answer: b. department of public health
You have received a call in regard to a natural death at a residence. Your investigation should include:
a. establishing a cause and manner of death at the scene
b. accepting family members' opinions as to the COD
c. contacting the physician of the deceased
d. basing your conclusions on the opinion of paramedics at the scene
e. forming an opinion as to the COD based on types of meds prescribed - Answer: c. contacting the
physician of the deceased
You are on scene of a homicide and the police tell you that the media want you to release the subject's
name and information about the case. You should:
a. take them with you to the scene
,b. follow office policy and procedures that your office has established for dealing with media
c. tell the media that you will not give them any information but that you will let them take pictures of
the body
d. let the police make the press release on behalf of your office
e. give the media the basic information - Answer: b. follow office policy and procedures that your office
has established for dealing with media
In general, which of the following is not normally considered for organ/tissue procurement purposes?
a. heart valves
b. long bones and pelvis
c. kidneys
d. tendon and veins
e. reproductive organs - Answer: e. reproductive organs
The pathologist must be alerted to religious requests from the family:
a. before the victim's body is taken from hospital
b. after the autopsy before the body is taken to the funeral home
c. before the victim's body is taken from the scene
d. only if the religion requires it
e. before the autopsy is performed - Answer: e. before the autopsy is performed
Retort - Answer: a vessel or chamber in which substances are decomposed by heat
To establish a working relationship with law enforcement personnel at the death scene, you should:
a. discuss case facts with the officer in charge and proceed appropriately
b. present the statutory citations for your authority to the officer in charge
c. introduce yourself; talk briefly about your responsibilities and listen to theirs
d. wait until your supervisor takes you around and introduces you
e. keep to yourself until you know the facts of the case - Answer: c. introduce yourself; talk briefly about
your responsibilities and listen to theirs
,When investigating a death, it is best to:
a. use all available resources
b. get all scene investigative information from LE
c. work alone
d. disregard how problems affect personnel
e. not listen to other or ask questions - Answer: a. use all available resources
List the key attributes of nonverbal communication - Answer: Eye movement, physical gestures, and
facial expressions
Jurisdiction - Answer: the power or authority a court or office has over individuals or trauma
Authorization for organ/tissue procurement is considered valid if:
a. the legal next of kin or representative has given consent
b. an emergency room physician gives permission
c. a donor card with the decedent's name is found in the wallet or purse
d. the decedent's physician will verify that donation was the decedent's request
e. a donor designation appears on the decedent's drivers license - Answer: a. the legal next of kin or
representative has given consent
The deceased is separated from his/her spouse. The NOK would be:
a. oldest surviving relative
b. separated spouse
c. parents
d. siblings
e. adult children - Answer: b. separated spouse
Disinterment - Answer: the opening of a grave and removal of the body for the purpose of
reexamination or removal to another site
, A medicolegal death investigator may release copies of a decedent's medical records to:
a. defense attorneys
b. rescue squad members
c. insurance investigators
d. district attorneys
e. none of the above - Answer: e. none of the above
Brain death - Answer: final cessation of activity in the central nervous system, as indicated by a flat
electroencephalogram (EEG) or absence of cerebral blood flow for a predetermined period of time
When you are investigating a death, you should:.
a. have law enforcement personnel at the scene with you to summarize the scene findings
b. allow the family to call the doctor to get the decedent's medical history
c. write in your narrative your opinion regarding who is responsible for the death
d. avoid asking the family sensitive questions
e. ask who what when where why and how - Answer: e. ask who what when where why and how
Cardiac death - Answer: final cessation of activity in the cardiovascular system involving the heart and
blood vessels
Cessation - Answer: the final stoppage of action
In constructing a narrative report, the main idea is to relate:
a. the main reason for the death
b. background information regarding the condition of the body
c. your involvement in the case
d. how the deceased was identified
e. an overall and concise view of what happened - Answer: e. an overall and concise view of what
happened
Complete Solutions Graded A+
Which of the following MUST notify the coroner/ME promptly upon discovery of a suspicious death?
a. law enforcement official
b. funeral director
c. EMT or paramedic
d. ER room physician
e. all of the above - Answer: e. all of the above
A 35 year old white female, who was employed as a waitress, unexpectedly dies at work. An autopsy
confirms the cause of death as bacterial meningitis. Which of the following agencies must be notified
promptly?
a. emergency medical association
b. department of public health
c. department of OSHA
d. department of children and family services
e. food and drug administration - Answer: b. department of public health
You have received a call in regard to a natural death at a residence. Your investigation should include:
a. establishing a cause and manner of death at the scene
b. accepting family members' opinions as to the COD
c. contacting the physician of the deceased
d. basing your conclusions on the opinion of paramedics at the scene
e. forming an opinion as to the COD based on types of meds prescribed - Answer: c. contacting the
physician of the deceased
You are on scene of a homicide and the police tell you that the media want you to release the subject's
name and information about the case. You should:
a. take them with you to the scene
,b. follow office policy and procedures that your office has established for dealing with media
c. tell the media that you will not give them any information but that you will let them take pictures of
the body
d. let the police make the press release on behalf of your office
e. give the media the basic information - Answer: b. follow office policy and procedures that your office
has established for dealing with media
In general, which of the following is not normally considered for organ/tissue procurement purposes?
a. heart valves
b. long bones and pelvis
c. kidneys
d. tendon and veins
e. reproductive organs - Answer: e. reproductive organs
The pathologist must be alerted to religious requests from the family:
a. before the victim's body is taken from hospital
b. after the autopsy before the body is taken to the funeral home
c. before the victim's body is taken from the scene
d. only if the religion requires it
e. before the autopsy is performed - Answer: e. before the autopsy is performed
Retort - Answer: a vessel or chamber in which substances are decomposed by heat
To establish a working relationship with law enforcement personnel at the death scene, you should:
a. discuss case facts with the officer in charge and proceed appropriately
b. present the statutory citations for your authority to the officer in charge
c. introduce yourself; talk briefly about your responsibilities and listen to theirs
d. wait until your supervisor takes you around and introduces you
e. keep to yourself until you know the facts of the case - Answer: c. introduce yourself; talk briefly about
your responsibilities and listen to theirs
,When investigating a death, it is best to:
a. use all available resources
b. get all scene investigative information from LE
c. work alone
d. disregard how problems affect personnel
e. not listen to other or ask questions - Answer: a. use all available resources
List the key attributes of nonverbal communication - Answer: Eye movement, physical gestures, and
facial expressions
Jurisdiction - Answer: the power or authority a court or office has over individuals or trauma
Authorization for organ/tissue procurement is considered valid if:
a. the legal next of kin or representative has given consent
b. an emergency room physician gives permission
c. a donor card with the decedent's name is found in the wallet or purse
d. the decedent's physician will verify that donation was the decedent's request
e. a donor designation appears on the decedent's drivers license - Answer: a. the legal next of kin or
representative has given consent
The deceased is separated from his/her spouse. The NOK would be:
a. oldest surviving relative
b. separated spouse
c. parents
d. siblings
e. adult children - Answer: b. separated spouse
Disinterment - Answer: the opening of a grave and removal of the body for the purpose of
reexamination or removal to another site
, A medicolegal death investigator may release copies of a decedent's medical records to:
a. defense attorneys
b. rescue squad members
c. insurance investigators
d. district attorneys
e. none of the above - Answer: e. none of the above
Brain death - Answer: final cessation of activity in the central nervous system, as indicated by a flat
electroencephalogram (EEG) or absence of cerebral blood flow for a predetermined period of time
When you are investigating a death, you should:.
a. have law enforcement personnel at the scene with you to summarize the scene findings
b. allow the family to call the doctor to get the decedent's medical history
c. write in your narrative your opinion regarding who is responsible for the death
d. avoid asking the family sensitive questions
e. ask who what when where why and how - Answer: e. ask who what when where why and how
Cardiac death - Answer: final cessation of activity in the cardiovascular system involving the heart and
blood vessels
Cessation - Answer: the final stoppage of action
In constructing a narrative report, the main idea is to relate:
a. the main reason for the death
b. background information regarding the condition of the body
c. your involvement in the case
d. how the deceased was identified
e. an overall and concise view of what happened - Answer: e. an overall and concise view of what
happened
