Medicolegal Death Investigation Exam 1/
"Medicolegal Death Investigation Exam 1 –
2025/2026 Study Guide with Verified Questions,
Answers, and Key Forensic Terminology.
Official pronouncement of death can
a. be accomplished only be a physician
b. by any medical professional
c. any responsible party
d. on-duty police officers
e. be determined by state statute and local customs
e. be determined by state statute and local customs
Authorization to conduct a medicolegal autopsy must be provided by
a. decedent's next of kin
b. coroner or medical examiner when jurisdiction is established
c. a will or other document signed before death
d. treating physician
e. all of the above
b - when death is not under jurisdiction of ME or coronoer, next of kin must give written
permission to perform autopsy
A previously healthy four month old infant is found unresponsive in his crib at home. He is
rushed to a hospital, where his 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
b - sudden and unexpected death
your office is investigating a suspected SIDS death. You should notify your statewide SIDS
program (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
,a. as soon as possible following the autopsy
b. within 24 hours of death
c. within 48 hours
d. within 72 hours
e. within one week of death
a - so support services for family can be initiated promptly
In general, which of the following are NOT normally considered for organ/tissue procurement
purposes?
a. liver and kidneys
b. long bones and pelvis
c. reproductive organs
d. heart valves
e. pancreas and skin
c - organs considered are solid organs, liver, pancreas, kidney, heart, lungs, tendons, heart
valves, corneas, skin, bone
Authorization for organ/tissue procurement is considered valid if
a. a donor designation appears on the decedent's drivers license
b. a donor card with the decedent's name is found in his/her wallet or purse
c. an emergency room physician gives permission
d. decedent's legal next of kin or representative has given consent
e. no legal next of kin can be located
d. allows contact of the organ procurement team with the family to obtain necessary medical
and social history in addition to their written consent. next of kin MUST give permission for
recovery of organs
an infant born without a brain
anencephalic
sorrow following death of a loved one
bereavement
cessation of activity in central nervous system
brain death
, cessation of activity in cardiovascular system
cardiac death - involves heart and blood vessels
final stoppage of action
cessation
elected official who decides whether a death occurred under circumstances that require and
autopsy
coroner
power or authority a court or office has over individuals or trauma
jurisdiction
person who gives consent to medicolegal death investigator before initiating any procurement
activity
legal next of kin
usually medical doctor, appointed, that decides whether a death occurred under circumstances
that may require an autopsy
medical examiner
agency responsible for identifying potential donors, obtaining consent, and procuring (obtain
carefully) organs
OPO (organ procurement organization)
alternations of the body following death; decomposition, environmental, and resuscitative
changes
postmortem changes
laws enacted by the legislative branch of government
statutes
What is the correct manner of death for an intentional drug overdose
undetermined
homicide
accident
suicide
"Medicolegal Death Investigation Exam 1 –
2025/2026 Study Guide with Verified Questions,
Answers, and Key Forensic Terminology.
Official pronouncement of death can
a. be accomplished only be a physician
b. by any medical professional
c. any responsible party
d. on-duty police officers
e. be determined by state statute and local customs
e. be determined by state statute and local customs
Authorization to conduct a medicolegal autopsy must be provided by
a. decedent's next of kin
b. coroner or medical examiner when jurisdiction is established
c. a will or other document signed before death
d. treating physician
e. all of the above
b - when death is not under jurisdiction of ME or coronoer, next of kin must give written
permission to perform autopsy
A previously healthy four month old infant is found unresponsive in his crib at home. He is
rushed to a hospital, where his 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
b - sudden and unexpected death
your office is investigating a suspected SIDS death. You should notify your statewide SIDS
program (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
,a. as soon as possible following the autopsy
b. within 24 hours of death
c. within 48 hours
d. within 72 hours
e. within one week of death
a - so support services for family can be initiated promptly
In general, which of the following are NOT normally considered for organ/tissue procurement
purposes?
a. liver and kidneys
b. long bones and pelvis
c. reproductive organs
d. heart valves
e. pancreas and skin
c - organs considered are solid organs, liver, pancreas, kidney, heart, lungs, tendons, heart
valves, corneas, skin, bone
Authorization for organ/tissue procurement is considered valid if
a. a donor designation appears on the decedent's drivers license
b. a donor card with the decedent's name is found in his/her wallet or purse
c. an emergency room physician gives permission
d. decedent's legal next of kin or representative has given consent
e. no legal next of kin can be located
d. allows contact of the organ procurement team with the family to obtain necessary medical
and social history in addition to their written consent. next of kin MUST give permission for
recovery of organs
an infant born without a brain
anencephalic
sorrow following death of a loved one
bereavement
cessation of activity in central nervous system
brain death
, cessation of activity in cardiovascular system
cardiac death - involves heart and blood vessels
final stoppage of action
cessation
elected official who decides whether a death occurred under circumstances that require and
autopsy
coroner
power or authority a court or office has over individuals or trauma
jurisdiction
person who gives consent to medicolegal death investigator before initiating any procurement
activity
legal next of kin
usually medical doctor, appointed, that decides whether a death occurred under circumstances
that may require an autopsy
medical examiner
agency responsible for identifying potential donors, obtaining consent, and procuring (obtain
carefully) organs
OPO (organ procurement organization)
alternations of the body following death; decomposition, environmental, and resuscitative
changes
postmortem changes
laws enacted by the legislative branch of government
statutes
What is the correct manner of death for an intentional drug overdose
undetermined
homicide
accident
suicide
