Medicolegal Death Investigation
State Statues - correct answer-Laws passed by the individual state government (Secretary
of the State assembles) that governs the state
Federal Statutes - correct answer-Laws passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by the
president.
Statutes - correct answer-Laws enacted by the legislative branch of government
Vital Statistics - correct answer-official records of births, marriages, divorces, and deaths
Armed Forces Medical Examiner - correct answer-Who conducts the forensic pathology
investigation if the deceased is involved in any federal investigation
(County) State Systems - correct answer-Deaths that occur within the state are investigated
by the state
Anencephalic - correct answer-born without a brain
Bereavement - correct answer-state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
Brain death - correct answer-Final cessation of activity in the CNS, as indicated by a flat
EEG or absence of cerebral blood flow for a predetermined amount of time
Cardiac death - correct answer-Final cessation of activity in the cardiovascular system
involving the heart and blood vessels
Cessation - correct answer-Final stoppage of action
Coroner - correct answer-Typically an elected official who decides weather a death occurred
under circumstances that require an autopsy, either by law or to determine manner or cause
of death. A coroner can determine the scope of an autopsy and who will perform it if the
elected coroner is not qualified. Only Kansas, Louisiana, North Dakota and Ohio require that
coroners be medical doctors.
Jurisdiction - correct answer-The power of authority a court or office has over individuals or
trauma
Legal next-of-kin - correct answer-The person from whom the medicolegal death investigator
must secure consent before initiating any procurement activity
Medical examiner - correct answer-Usually a medical doctor, although not necessarily a
highly trained pathologist. Like a coroner, a medical examiner decides weather a death
occurred under circumstances that may require an autopsy and who will perform it if the
,medical examiner is not qualified. A medical examiner is usually appointed to the position
and may have jurisdiction for a county, district or state.
OPO (organ procurement organization) - correct answer-Agency responsible for identifying
potential donors, obtaining convent and procuring organs
Postmortem changes - correct answer-Alterations of the body following death, including
decomposition and environmental resuscitative injuries
Resuscitate - correct answer-to revive, bring back to consciousness or existence
Verify - correct answer-Establish or confirm the accuracy of information or evidence through
testimony
Empathy - correct answer-the ability to understand and share the feelings of another
Sympathy - correct answer-feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune
Orthodox Jews - correct answer-Object to autopsy. If needed, must be performed before
sundown on the day the person died
Muslim - correct answer-No official concern
Jehovah's Witnesses - correct answer-Not opposed
Catholic - correct answer-Not opposed
Laotians (Hmong) - correct answer-Generally opposed
Mexican Catholic - correct answer-Opposed, unless required by law
Protestants/Christian Scientists - correct answer-Not opposed
Native Americans - correct answer-Generally object to autopsy
Antimortem blood sample - correct answer-Initial blood sample attained when the subject
arrives to the hospitals emergency room, before additional diagnostic or therapeutic
treatment is initiated
Authorization - correct answer-official permission or approval granted by supervisor
Confidential - correct answer-Revealed in confidence to be kept secret
Cremation - correct answer-Reduction of a dead human body to inorganic bone fragments
by intense heat in a specially designed chamber
Demographic information - correct answer-Personal identifying and specific information
regarding an individual's age, social security number, gender, age, address and so on
, Disinterment - correct answer-Opening of a grave and removal of a body for the purpose of
reexamination or removal to another site
Embalmer - correct answer-a person, properly licensed, who disinfects, preserves, or
restores a dead human body
Euphemism - correct answer-a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one
considered to be too harsh or blunt
Funeral director - correct answer-A person properly licensed, engaged in, or conducting, or
holding himself out as being engaged in: 1) preparing, other than by embalming, for the
burial or disposition of dead human bodies; 2) maintaining or operating a funeral
establishment for the preparation and disposition, or for the care of dead human bodies.
Guardianship or power of attorney - correct answer-Legal authorization to act on another
individual's behalf. This authority usually ceases after death so be sure to check the law in
your state.
Interrogation - correct answer-formal questioning by persons in authority, usually law
enforcement
Interview - correct answer-Formal face-to-face conversation between a reporter/medicolegal
death investigator and a person from whom information is sought (witness)
Media - correct answer-Any news agency and its representatives
Objective report - correct answer-Report made in an independent and unbiased manner,
without regard for personal attitudes rather thoughts
Pathologist - correct answer-A physician trained in the identification and diagnosis of disease
and injury who may perform autopsies
Pedigree - correct answer-List of ancestors on a person's family tree
The public - correct answer-Any person or agency not officially affiliated with or recognized
as a member of your office
Religious objection - correct answer-A family's objection to the performance of an autopsy
based on their religious beliefs
Retort - correct answer-A vessel or chamber in which substances are decomposed by heat
(cremation)
Self-inflicted - correct answer-Infliction of injury or death on oneself
Statutory - correct answer-Authorized by law
State Statues - correct answer-Laws passed by the individual state government (Secretary
of the State assembles) that governs the state
Federal Statutes - correct answer-Laws passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by the
president.
Statutes - correct answer-Laws enacted by the legislative branch of government
Vital Statistics - correct answer-official records of births, marriages, divorces, and deaths
Armed Forces Medical Examiner - correct answer-Who conducts the forensic pathology
investigation if the deceased is involved in any federal investigation
(County) State Systems - correct answer-Deaths that occur within the state are investigated
by the state
Anencephalic - correct answer-born without a brain
Bereavement - correct answer-state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
Brain death - correct answer-Final cessation of activity in the CNS, as indicated by a flat
EEG or absence of cerebral blood flow for a predetermined amount of time
Cardiac death - correct answer-Final cessation of activity in the cardiovascular system
involving the heart and blood vessels
Cessation - correct answer-Final stoppage of action
Coroner - correct answer-Typically an elected official who decides weather a death occurred
under circumstances that require an autopsy, either by law or to determine manner or cause
of death. A coroner can determine the scope of an autopsy and who will perform it if the
elected coroner is not qualified. Only Kansas, Louisiana, North Dakota and Ohio require that
coroners be medical doctors.
Jurisdiction - correct answer-The power of authority a court or office has over individuals or
trauma
Legal next-of-kin - correct answer-The person from whom the medicolegal death investigator
must secure consent before initiating any procurement activity
Medical examiner - correct answer-Usually a medical doctor, although not necessarily a
highly trained pathologist. Like a coroner, a medical examiner decides weather a death
occurred under circumstances that may require an autopsy and who will perform it if the
,medical examiner is not qualified. A medical examiner is usually appointed to the position
and may have jurisdiction for a county, district or state.
OPO (organ procurement organization) - correct answer-Agency responsible for identifying
potential donors, obtaining convent and procuring organs
Postmortem changes - correct answer-Alterations of the body following death, including
decomposition and environmental resuscitative injuries
Resuscitate - correct answer-to revive, bring back to consciousness or existence
Verify - correct answer-Establish or confirm the accuracy of information or evidence through
testimony
Empathy - correct answer-the ability to understand and share the feelings of another
Sympathy - correct answer-feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune
Orthodox Jews - correct answer-Object to autopsy. If needed, must be performed before
sundown on the day the person died
Muslim - correct answer-No official concern
Jehovah's Witnesses - correct answer-Not opposed
Catholic - correct answer-Not opposed
Laotians (Hmong) - correct answer-Generally opposed
Mexican Catholic - correct answer-Opposed, unless required by law
Protestants/Christian Scientists - correct answer-Not opposed
Native Americans - correct answer-Generally object to autopsy
Antimortem blood sample - correct answer-Initial blood sample attained when the subject
arrives to the hospitals emergency room, before additional diagnostic or therapeutic
treatment is initiated
Authorization - correct answer-official permission or approval granted by supervisor
Confidential - correct answer-Revealed in confidence to be kept secret
Cremation - correct answer-Reduction of a dead human body to inorganic bone fragments
by intense heat in a specially designed chamber
Demographic information - correct answer-Personal identifying and specific information
regarding an individual's age, social security number, gender, age, address and so on
, Disinterment - correct answer-Opening of a grave and removal of a body for the purpose of
reexamination or removal to another site
Embalmer - correct answer-a person, properly licensed, who disinfects, preserves, or
restores a dead human body
Euphemism - correct answer-a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one
considered to be too harsh or blunt
Funeral director - correct answer-A person properly licensed, engaged in, or conducting, or
holding himself out as being engaged in: 1) preparing, other than by embalming, for the
burial or disposition of dead human bodies; 2) maintaining or operating a funeral
establishment for the preparation and disposition, or for the care of dead human bodies.
Guardianship or power of attorney - correct answer-Legal authorization to act on another
individual's behalf. This authority usually ceases after death so be sure to check the law in
your state.
Interrogation - correct answer-formal questioning by persons in authority, usually law
enforcement
Interview - correct answer-Formal face-to-face conversation between a reporter/medicolegal
death investigator and a person from whom information is sought (witness)
Media - correct answer-Any news agency and its representatives
Objective report - correct answer-Report made in an independent and unbiased manner,
without regard for personal attitudes rather thoughts
Pathologist - correct answer-A physician trained in the identification and diagnosis of disease
and injury who may perform autopsies
Pedigree - correct answer-List of ancestors on a person's family tree
The public - correct answer-Any person or agency not officially affiliated with or recognized
as a member of your office
Religious objection - correct answer-A family's objection to the performance of an autopsy
based on their religious beliefs
Retort - correct answer-A vessel or chamber in which substances are decomposed by heat
(cremation)
Self-inflicted - correct answer-Infliction of injury or death on oneself
Statutory - correct answer-Authorized by law
