AMERICAN BOARD OF MEDICOLEGAL
DEATH INVESTIGATORS COMPREHENSIVE
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS COMPLETE REVIEW
◉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
DEATH INVESTIGATORS COMPREHENSIVE
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS COMPLETE REVIEW
◉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
