DEATH INVESTIGATION ABMDI EXAM 2026
AUTOPSY AND POSTMORTEM REVIEW
QUESTIONS ANSWERS VERIFIED GUIDE
◉ ch1: 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: C.use all available resources.
◉ ch1: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.
◉ ch1: 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
◉ ch1: 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.
,◉ ch1: 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"
◉ ch1: 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.
, ◉ ch1: 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.
◉ ch1: Official pronouncement of death can
A. be accomplished only by a physician
B. be accomplished by any medical professional
C. be accomplished by on-duty police officers
D. be accomplished by on-duty police officers
E: be determined by state statute and local customs
Answer: E: be determined by state statute and local customs
◉ ch1: Authorization to conduct a medicolegal autopsy must be
provided by
A. the decedent's next of kin
B. the coroner or medical examiner when jurisdiction is established
AUTOPSY AND POSTMORTEM REVIEW
QUESTIONS ANSWERS VERIFIED GUIDE
◉ ch1: 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: C.use all available resources.
◉ ch1: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.
◉ ch1: 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
◉ ch1: 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.
,◉ ch1: 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"
◉ ch1: 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.
, ◉ ch1: 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.
◉ ch1: Official pronouncement of death can
A. be accomplished only by a physician
B. be accomplished by any medical professional
C. be accomplished by on-duty police officers
D. be accomplished by on-duty police officers
E: be determined by state statute and local customs
Answer: E: be determined by state statute and local customs
◉ ch1: Authorization to conduct a medicolegal autopsy must be
provided by
A. the decedent's next of kin
B. the coroner or medical examiner when jurisdiction is established
