Introduction to MDI

Question 1

What is death?
TJ

Answer 1

Death is the irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions.

Question 2

What is the difference between a coroner and a medical examiner?
TJ

Answer 2

A medical examiner is a trained physician that has the ability to perform autopsies and investigate suspicious deaths. A coroner is an elected official who certifies deaths

Question 3

When was ABMDI created?
TJ

Answer 3

2005

Question 4

What is the first thing a medicolegal death investigator should do when investigating?
TJ

Answer 4

Collect any information regarding the decedent

Question 5

What are the three types of death investigations and what type of deaths do they typically handle?
TJ

Answer 5

Medicolegal death investigations: They are required by law to investigate all types of deaths ie. homicide, suicide, natural etc.
Institution based Investigations: These are typically nursing homes and hospitals that only focus on/determine natural deaths
Private investigations: These are investigators requested by the family and they can handle any type of death.

Question 6

Nonambulatory (RC)

Answer 6

not mobile, unable to walk

Question 7

What is the most important responsibility? (RC)

Answer 7

First Rule Out Homicide

Question 8

What additional testing is done for victims of a shooting and why? (RC)

Answer 8

radiology studies (x-rays)
to determine where the bullet is in the body

Question 9

True or False
A coroner always performs an autopsy (RC)

Answer 9

False
The pathologist performs the autopsy. If a coroner has the medical training it is possible but not common.

Question 10

When should OSHA be notified if a person dies while at work? (RC)

Answer 10

Always

Question 11

true or false

both medical examiners and coroners can determine cause/manner of death (EMM)

Answer 11

true

Question 12

what is manner of death? (EMM)(RR)

Answer 12

describes the way in which death occurred (ex: Homicide, suicide, accidental, natural or undetermined)

Question 13

what is cause of death? (EMM)(RR)

Answer 13

the disease or injury that directly causes death
(ex: diabetes, accidents, heart disease)

Question 14

what is mechanism of death? (EMM)(RR)

Answer 14

the specific physical change on the body that results in death (ex: if cause of death is shooting, mechanism of death could be blood loss)

Question 15

true/false: any deaths unattended by a physician should be reported to coroner or ME (EMM)

Answer 15

true

Question 16

who may be involved in death investigations (HC)

Answer 16

coroners, medical examiner, pathologists, physicians, law enforcement and ancillary agencies: children and youth, office of aging, OSHA, department of health, etc.

Question 17

typical components of a medicolegal death investigation (HC)(RR)

Answer 17

initial collection of information, scene investigation, interviews, scene photography, body assessment, medical record review/physician contact, autopsy, narrative report writing

Question 18

challenges in medicolegal death investigation (HC) (RR)

Answer 18

locating next of kin, photographing in difficult conditions, decomposing remains, fire deaths, gunshot wounds, traumatic injuries

Question 19

additional procedures in medicolegal death investigation (HC) (RR)

Answer 19

toxicology testing, autopsy, radiology studies, court testimony, death certificates, histology, fingerprinting, odontology, exhumations, unclaimed remains, organ and tissue donations

Question 20

True or False
Any death that occurs in a hospital or in the presence of a medical professional must be reported to the coroner’s office. (DG)

Answer 20

False

Question 21

What are some questions to ask to help determine Jurisdiction? (DG)

Answer 21

Did he/she live alone?
Recent traumatic events/injuries?
signs of drug use?
what is the reason for quadriplegia/paraplegia?

Question 22

What is Histology? (DG)

Answer 22

The study of cells

Question 23

What is one indication that will tell you that the gunshot wound is the exit wound? (DG)

Answer 23

It will show outward beveling of the soft tissue and bone.

Question 24

What are the 3 types of Morti’s? (DG)

Answer 24

Rigor Mortis, Livor Mortis/lividity, and Algor Mortis