ABMDI practice test
Medical examiner/coroner authority at a death scene comes from:
A.the medical examiner official office policy manual.
B.the medical examiner/coroner office policy derived from state statutory authority.
C.the medical examiner/coroner office policy derived from federal statutory authority.
D.the coroner official office policy manual.
E.the county board of supervisors. - correct answer-B. :
the medical examiner/coroner office policy derived from state statutory authority.
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. - correct answer-B.the medical
examiner/coroner office policy derived from state statutory authority.
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. - correct answer-B.information is of little use
unless it is properly documented and communicated to others.
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. - correct answer-A.the
emergency department.
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. - correct answer-C.all deaths
within their state that fall under statute.
,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" - correct
answer-D."The Role of the Medical Examiner"
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. - correct
answer-D.providing medical information to the news media.
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. - correct answer-B.the local SIDS Center and the local police
agency.
When one is writing descriptive information about a death scene, the name, address, and
telephone number of the decedent are all part of the _____________ to be included in the
case file.
A.family history information
B.chronological data
C.demographic information
D.medical data
E.graphic information - correct answer-C.demographic information
The public information officer (PIO) for your jurisdiction requests information regarding an
investigation for exclusive release. The investigator 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 because the PIO understands your departmental policies and is
usually fair in relasing information to all news outlets.
C.advise the PIO of the information with added request that the information not be released
until a later specified date.
D.decline to provide information stating that the office will make its own news release at a
later time.
, E.None of the above. - correct answer-A.advise the PIO of office policy and decline to
provide information that would not otherwise be provided to other news agencies.
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. - correct answer-E.inquire whether the
physician had marital problems.
A businesswoman from out of town is found dead in her motel room, the victim of apparent
homicidal violence. Personal items in the room reveal she is married and lives in an
adjoining state. In order to notify her next-of-kin, the investigator should:
A.telephone the husband and advise him of the death immediately, then send a police
officer(s) to the husband's residence and inform him of the death. Request that the officer(s)
remain at the residence and direct the husband to call the investigator's office at that time.
B.contact the law enforcement agency in the husband's jurisdiction. Ask them to send a
police officer(s) to the husband's residence and inform him of the death. Request that the
officer(s) remain at the residence and direct the husband to call the investigator's office at
that time.
C.request the motel owner to notify the next-of-kin from the information contained in the
motel registry, then contact t - correct answer-B.contact the law enforcement agency in the
husband's jurisdiction. Ask them to send a police officer(s) to the husband's residence and
inform him of the death. Request that the officer(s) remain at the residence and direct the
husband to call the investigator's office at that time.
The medicolegal death investigator and a police officer arrive at a death scene within
minutes of each other.
A.The police officer is in charge and directs the work.
B.The death investigator 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. - correct answer-C.The
best approach is a "team" approach to performing the work.
Obtaining information regarding 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. - correct answer-C.Avoid
questions that may embarrass the family.
Medical examiner/coroner authority at a death scene comes from:
A.the medical examiner official office policy manual.
B.the medical examiner/coroner office policy derived from state statutory authority.
C.the medical examiner/coroner office policy derived from federal statutory authority.
D.the coroner official office policy manual.
E.the county board of supervisors. - correct answer-B. :
the medical examiner/coroner office policy derived from state statutory authority.
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. - correct answer-B.the medical
examiner/coroner office policy derived from state statutory authority.
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. - correct answer-B.information is of little use
unless it is properly documented and communicated to others.
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. - correct answer-A.the
emergency department.
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. - correct answer-C.all deaths
within their state that fall under statute.
,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" - correct
answer-D."The Role of the Medical Examiner"
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. - correct
answer-D.providing medical information to the news media.
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. - correct answer-B.the local SIDS Center and the local police
agency.
When one is writing descriptive information about a death scene, the name, address, and
telephone number of the decedent are all part of the _____________ to be included in the
case file.
A.family history information
B.chronological data
C.demographic information
D.medical data
E.graphic information - correct answer-C.demographic information
The public information officer (PIO) for your jurisdiction requests information regarding an
investigation for exclusive release. The investigator 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 because the PIO understands your departmental policies and is
usually fair in relasing information to all news outlets.
C.advise the PIO of the information with added request that the information not be released
until a later specified date.
D.decline to provide information stating that the office will make its own news release at a
later time.
, E.None of the above. - correct answer-A.advise the PIO of office policy and decline to
provide information that would not otherwise be provided to other news agencies.
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. - correct answer-E.inquire whether the
physician had marital problems.
A businesswoman from out of town is found dead in her motel room, the victim of apparent
homicidal violence. Personal items in the room reveal she is married and lives in an
adjoining state. In order to notify her next-of-kin, the investigator should:
A.telephone the husband and advise him of the death immediately, then send a police
officer(s) to the husband's residence and inform him of the death. Request that the officer(s)
remain at the residence and direct the husband to call the investigator's office at that time.
B.contact the law enforcement agency in the husband's jurisdiction. Ask them to send a
police officer(s) to the husband's residence and inform him of the death. Request that the
officer(s) remain at the residence and direct the husband to call the investigator's office at
that time.
C.request the motel owner to notify the next-of-kin from the information contained in the
motel registry, then contact t - correct answer-B.contact the law enforcement agency in the
husband's jurisdiction. Ask them to send a police officer(s) to the husband's residence and
inform him of the death. Request that the officer(s) remain at the residence and direct the
husband to call the investigator's office at that time.
The medicolegal death investigator and a police officer arrive at a death scene within
minutes of each other.
A.The police officer is in charge and directs the work.
B.The death investigator 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. - correct answer-C.The
best approach is a "team" approach to performing the work.
Obtaining information regarding 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. - correct answer-C.Avoid
questions that may embarrass the family.
