ABMDI PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
ACCURATE ANSWERS GRADED A+
●● BEREAVEMENT
Answer: Sorrow following the death of a loved one
●● BRAIN DEATH
Answer: Final cessation of activity in the central nervous system, as
indicated by a flat EEG or absence of cerebral blood flow for a
predetermined period of time
●● CARDIAC DEATH
Answer: Final cessation of activity in the cardiovascular system
involving the heart and blood vessels
●● CESSATION
Answer: The final stoppage of action
●● CORONER
Answer: Typically an elected official who decides whether a death
occurred under circumstances that require an autopsy, either by law or to
determine manner or cause.
,●● JURISDICTION
Answer: The power of authority a court or office has over individuals or
trauma
●● LNOK
Answer: The person from whom the medicolegal death investigator must
secure consent before initiating any procurement activity
●● MEDICAL EXAMINER
Answer: Usually a medical doctor, although not necessary a highly
trained pathologist. Like a coroner, a ME decides whether a death
occurred under circumstances that may require an autopsy and who will
perform it if the ME is not qualified.
●● OPO (organ procurement organization)
Answer: The agency responsible for identifying potential donors,
obtaining consent, and procuring organs
●● POSTMORTEM CHANGES
Answer: Alterations of the body following death, including
decomposition and environmental resuscitative injuries
●● STATUTES
Answer: Laws enacted by the legislative branch of government
,●● VERIFY
Answer: Establish or confirm the accuracy of information or evidence
through testimony
●● VITAL STATISTICS
Answer: A gov't agency responsible for maintaining a system of
registration and release of records for the public, including birth,
marriage, divorce, an death
●● Official pronouncement of death can :
A. be accomplished only by a physician
B. be accomplished by any medical professional
C. be accomplished by any responsible party
D. be accomplished by on-duty police officiers
E. be determined by state statue and local customs
Answer: E.
●● Authorization to conduct a medicolegal autopsy must be provided
by:
A. the decedent's NOK
B. the coroner or ME when jurisdiction is esetablished
C. a will or other document signed before death
, D. the treating physician
E. all of the above
Answer: B
●● A previously healthy four-month-old infant is found unresponsive in
his crib at home. He is rushed to a hospital, where he is maintained on a
respirator for 26 hours before being declared dead. No external trauma
or disease is noted by the treating physician:
A. the coroner is without jurisdiction because of hospitalization
B. The coroner has jurisdiction because of the unexplained death of an
infant
C. The coroner has jurisdiction because of length of hospitalization
D. The absence of trauma precludes the coroner's having jurisdiction
E. Significant trauma will always be apparent on the surface of the body
Answer: B
●● Your office is investigating a suspected SIDS death. You should
notify your statewide SIDS program:
A. ASAP following the autopsy
B. within 24 hours of the death
C. within 48 hours of the death
D. within 72 hours of the death
E. within one week of the death
ACCURATE ANSWERS GRADED A+
●● BEREAVEMENT
Answer: Sorrow following the death of a loved one
●● BRAIN DEATH
Answer: Final cessation of activity in the central nervous system, as
indicated by a flat EEG or absence of cerebral blood flow for a
predetermined period of time
●● CARDIAC DEATH
Answer: Final cessation of activity in the cardiovascular system
involving the heart and blood vessels
●● CESSATION
Answer: The final stoppage of action
●● CORONER
Answer: Typically an elected official who decides whether a death
occurred under circumstances that require an autopsy, either by law or to
determine manner or cause.
,●● JURISDICTION
Answer: The power of authority a court or office has over individuals or
trauma
●● LNOK
Answer: The person from whom the medicolegal death investigator must
secure consent before initiating any procurement activity
●● MEDICAL EXAMINER
Answer: Usually a medical doctor, although not necessary a highly
trained pathologist. Like a coroner, a ME decides whether a death
occurred under circumstances that may require an autopsy and who will
perform it if the ME is not qualified.
●● OPO (organ procurement organization)
Answer: The agency responsible for identifying potential donors,
obtaining consent, and procuring organs
●● POSTMORTEM CHANGES
Answer: Alterations of the body following death, including
decomposition and environmental resuscitative injuries
●● STATUTES
Answer: Laws enacted by the legislative branch of government
,●● VERIFY
Answer: Establish or confirm the accuracy of information or evidence
through testimony
●● VITAL STATISTICS
Answer: A gov't agency responsible for maintaining a system of
registration and release of records for the public, including birth,
marriage, divorce, an death
●● Official pronouncement of death can :
A. be accomplished only by a physician
B. be accomplished by any medical professional
C. be accomplished by any responsible party
D. be accomplished by on-duty police officiers
E. be determined by state statue and local customs
Answer: E.
●● Authorization to conduct a medicolegal autopsy must be provided
by:
A. the decedent's NOK
B. the coroner or ME when jurisdiction is esetablished
C. a will or other document signed before death
, D. the treating physician
E. all of the above
Answer: B
●● A previously healthy four-month-old infant is found unresponsive in
his crib at home. He is rushed to a hospital, where he is maintained on a
respirator for 26 hours before being declared dead. No external trauma
or disease is noted by the treating physician:
A. the coroner is without jurisdiction because of hospitalization
B. The coroner has jurisdiction because of the unexplained death of an
infant
C. The coroner has jurisdiction because of length of hospitalization
D. The absence of trauma precludes the coroner's having jurisdiction
E. Significant trauma will always be apparent on the surface of the body
Answer: B
●● Your office is investigating a suspected SIDS death. You should
notify your statewide SIDS program:
A. ASAP following the autopsy
B. within 24 hours of the death
C. within 48 hours of the death
D. within 72 hours of the death
E. within one week of the death
