Death Flashcards
(139 cards)
1
Q
True about death EXCEPT
a. the civil personality of a natural person is not extinguished by death
b. The property of a person is transmitted to his heirs at the time of death
c. the death of a partner is one of the causes of dissolution of partnership agreement
d. death of either the principal or agent
e. NOTA (all are true)
A
A; civil personality of a natural person is extinguished by death.
2
Q
Definition of “Life”
A
Sum of all the vital processes by which the physical integrity of the body is maintained
3
Q
Definition of Death
A
Termination of life and the complete cessation of vital functions without the possibility of resuscitation.
4
Q
A continuous process, while death is an event that takes place at a precise time. The ascertainment of death is a clinical and not a legal process.
A
Dying
5
Q
Type of death where there is unreceptivity and unresponsibility, no movements or breathing (at least 1 hr), no reflexes, flat EEG, potential organ donors
A
Brain Death
6
Q
Complete, persistent and continuous cessation of the vital functions of the brain, heart and lugs which maintain life and health
A
Somatic or clinical death
7
Q
Not really death but merely a transient loss of consciousness or temporary cessation of the vital functions of the body on account of disease, external stimulus or other forms of influence
A
Apparent death
8
Q
After the cessation of the vital functions of the body, there is still animal life among individual cells
A
molecular or cellular death
9
Q
Death in individual cells occur after _ to _ hrs
A
3-6 hrs
10
Q
Signs of Death (6)
A
- Cessation of heart and circulation
- Cessation of respiration
- Cooling of the body
- Insensibility of the body and loss of power to move
- Changes in the skin
- Changes about the eye
11
Q
2 components of examination of the heart (signs of death)
A
- palpation of the pulse
2. auscultation for the heart sound at the precordial area
12
Q
Ligature is applied around the base of a finger with moderate tightness. In a living person, there appears a bloodless zone at the site of the application. If such ligature is applied on a dead man, there is no change in color. What test?
A
Magnus test
13
Q
Injection of a solution of fluorescein subcutaneously; if circulation is still present, the dye will spread all over the body and the whole skin will have greenish-yellow discoloration. What test?
A
Icards’ test
14
Q
The fingers are spread wide and the finger webs are viewed through a strong light. In the living, the finger webs appear red but yellow in the dead. What test?
A
Diaphanous test
15
Q
What would be the reaction of the skin of a dead person if you drop melted wax on the breast?
A
no inflammatory edema at the neighborhood of the dropped melted wax
16
Q
There is no movement of the image formed by reflecting artificial light on the water or mercury contained in a saucer and placed on chest or abdomen if respiration is not taking place.
A
Winslow test
17
Q
True about algor mortis EXCEPT
a. after death, the metabolic process inside the body ceases
b. No more heat is produced but the body loses slowly its temperature by evaporation or by conduction to the surrounding atmosphere
c. Post mortem caloricity happens in the first 3 hours of death
d. the progressive fall of body temp is one of the most prominent signs of death
A
C; first 2 hours
18
Q
What is one of the most prominent signs of death?
A
progressive fall of the body temp
19
Q
What do you call the rise in body temp after death that usually happens in the first 2 hours of death.
A
Post mortem caloricity
20
Q
Cooling is delayed in the following conditions EXCEPT
a. acute pyrexial disease
b. sudden death in good health
c. Obesity
d. Death from asphyxia
e. long-standing or lingering illness
A
E. Accelerate cooling: CELL Leanness of the body Extreme age Long-standing or lingering illness Chronic pyrexial disease associated with wasiting
21
Q
Cooling is accelerated in the following conditions EXCEPT:
a. unclothed body
b. conditions allowing the access of air
c. small room
d. body is in water
A
C; External conditions that delay cooling: CWSW Clothing Want of access of air to the body Small room Warm surroundings
22
Q
As a general rule, the body attains the temperature of the surrounding air from _____ hours after death in tropical countries
A
12-15 hours
23
Q
half life of body temp:
A
2 hours
24
Q
What do you call the phenomenon when body becomes flattened over the areas which are in contact with the surface it rests
A
Post-mortem contact flattening
25
4 changes about the eye after death
CFPOT
1. Clouding of cornea
2. Flaccidity of the eyeball
3. Pupil is in position of rest
4. Opthalmoscopic findings
5. Tache noir de la sclerotique
26
What is tache noir de sclerotique?
Spot that appears on sclera, may be oval, round or triangular with the base towards the corner and may appear in the sclera a few hours after death.
27
3 stages of muscle changes after death
1. Stage of primary flaccidity or period of muscular irritability
2. Post-mortem rigidity
3. Stage of secondary falccidity or secondary relaxation
28
Extremities are flexed, lower jaw falls, eyeball loses tension, there may be incontinence. Lasts for about 3-6 hours
Stage of primary flaccidity or period of muscular irritability
29
Onset 3-6 hours after death. Muscles gradually stiffen, neck and lower jaw spreads downwards, body becomes stiff, all muscles are involved.
Stage of post-mortem rigidity (Rigor mortis, cadaveric rigidity)
30
Muscles become soft and flaccid, does not respond to mechanical or electrical stimulus.
Stage of secondary flaccidity or secondary relaxation
31
True about heat stiffening
a. occurs if the body is exposed to temp above 65 degC
b. the stiffening is temporary
c. the body assumes a pugillistic attitude
d. Pugillistic attitude means lower and upper ex extended, hands clenched
C;
A: 75degC
B. more or less permanent
D. commonly observed when the body is placed in boiling fluid or when body is burned to death
32
True about cold stiffening
a. Cold stiffening is permanent
b. due to solidification of water in freezing temperatures
c. both
d. neither
D
A: stiffening of the body may be manifested when the body is frozen but exposure to warm condition will make such stiffening disappear
B. The cold stiffening is due to solidification of fat
33
The following statements favor cadaveric spasm over rigor mortis
a. 3-6 hours after death
b. all muscles of the body
c. used to approximate the time of death
d. none of the above
D
Rigor mortis: 3-6 hours after death, all muscles of the body, natural phenomenon, used to approximate time of death
Cadaveric spasm: immediately after death, certain muscles or group of muscles, may or may not appear, determine the nature of the crime
34
Blood may remain fluid inside the blood after death for __ hours
6-8 hours
35
the following statements favor ante-mortem clot EXCEPT
a. firm consistency
b. raw after clots are removed
c. homogenous so it cannot be stripped
d. distinct layers, nonuniform
D;
ante-mortem clot: firm consistency, raw after clots are removed, homogenous so it cannot be stripped into layers, uniform color
Post-mortem clot: soft, smooth and healthy after the clots are removed, stripped off in layers, nonuniform, distinct layers
36
Blood accumulates in the most dependent portions of the body. Cappilaries may be distended with blood and they coalesce with one another until the whole area becomes dull-red or purplish in color. What do you call this?
```
Post-mortem lividity
Cadaveric lividity
Post-mortem suggilation
Pos-mortem Hypostasis
Livor mortis
```
37
True about physical characteristics of post-mortem (cadaveric lividity)
a. spares most dependent portions of the body
b. involves deep layers of the skin
c. appears elevated from the rest of the skin
d. color is uniform but color may become greenish
e. no injury of the skin
D
a. occurs in most extensive and most dependent portions of the body
b. involves the superficial layer of the skin
c. does not appear elevated from the rest of the skin
d. color is uniform but the color may become greenish at the start of decomposition
d. no injury to the skin.
38
Kinds of post-mortem (cadaveric lividity) 2
hypostatic
| diffusion
39
True about post-mortem lividity
a. hypostatic lividity appears during the later stage, when blood has coagulated inside the blood vessel
b. Diffusion occurs because blood merely gravitates into the most dependent portions but still inside blood vessels in fluid form
c. both
d. neither
D.
hypostatic lividity:
blood merely gravitates into the most dependent portions but still inside the blood vessel in fluid form
diffusion:
Appears during the later stage of its formation when the blood has coagulated inside the blood vessel.
40
Importance of cadaveric lividity (4)
1. it is one of the signs of death
2. it may determine whether the position of the body has been changed after its appearance in the body.
3. The color of the lividity may indicate the cause of death
4. It may determine how long the person has been dead
41
```
Match Column A with Column B
A
Asphyxia
Carbon monoxide
Hemorrhage Anemia
Hydrocyanic acid
Phosphorous
Potassium Chlorate
Potassium Dichromate
Snow or Ice
```
```
B
Bright red
Bright pink
Less dark
Dark
Bright red
Dark Brown
Chocolate or coffee brown
```
```
Asphyxia - dark
Carbon monoxide - bright pink
Hemorrhage, anemia - less dark
Hydrocyanic Acid - bright red
Phosphorous - Dark brown
Potassium Chlorate - Chocolate or coffee brown
Potassium dichromate - chocolate or coffee brown
Snow or ice - bright red
```
42
The process of breaking down of the complex proteins into simpler components associated with the evolution of foul smelling gases and accompanied by the change of color of the body
Putrefaction
43
Prominence of the superficial veins with reddish discoloration during the process of decomposition which develops on both flanks of the abdomen, root of the neck and shoulder.
Marbolization
44
True about putrefaction EXCEPT
a. the earliest change is greenish color of the skin seen at the region of the L iliac fossa and it gradually spreads over the whole abdominal wall.
b. formation of gases cause the distention and bloating of the abdomen, but not the whole body.
c. Highly muscular organs and tissues putrefy relatively early
d. AOTA (none are true)
e. NOTA (all are true)
D
earliest change - R iliac fossa
bloating of the whole body
highly musuclar - putrefy late
45
Order of putrefaction when body is in water:arrange
1. shoulders
2. arms
3. face and neck or sternum
4. legs
5. abdomen
3-1-2-5-4
46
Factors that influence floating (6)
```
Age
Sex
Condition of the body
Season of the year
Body of water
Others
```
47
The following statements are true EXCEPT
a. well-nourished newly born infants float rapidly
b. women float sooner than en
c. obese persons float sooner than skinny
d. moist hot air delays floating of body
e. easier to float in sea than fresh water
D;
| moist hot air accelerates floating
48
True about internal factors modifying rate of putrefaction EXCEPT
a. healthy adults decompose later than infants
b. markedly emaciated person has tendency to mummify
c. full-grown highly obese decompose more rapidly than skinny
d. still-born: decomposition is retarded
e. NOTA
f. AOTA
E; all are true
49
True about external factors modifying rate of putrefaction EXCEPT
a. Accessibility of the body to free air will hasten decomposition
b. Excessive amount of moisture will prevent access of air to the body thereby delaying decomposition
c. optimum temp for specific decomposition is 60-100degC
d. NOTA (all are true)
C. 70-100 degC
50
True about external factors modifying rate of putrefaction EXCEPT
a. clothings initially hastens putrefaction by maintaining body temp
b. decomposition is more rapid in still water than running water
c. dry absorbent soil retards decomposition
d. NOTA (all are true)
B. decomposition is more rapid in running water
51
dehydration of the whole body which results in shivering and preservation of the body. What do you call this?
Mummification
52
condition wherein the fatty tissues of the body are transformed to soft brownish-white substance
saponification or adipocere formation
53
this is the softening of the tissues when in a fluid medium in the absence of putrefactive microorganisms which is frequently observed in the death of the fetus in utero
maceration
54
Duration of death
| -presence of rigor mortis, warm countries
2-3 hours after death (warm countries)
55
Duration of death
| -presence of rigor mortis, fully developed
12 hours after death
56
rigor mortis duration
18-36 hours
57
T/F the disappearance of rigor mortis is concomittant to putrefaction
T
58
Duration of death
| Presence of post-mortem lividity
3-6 hours after death
59
Duration of death
| onset of decomposition
24-48 hours
60
Duration of death
| Presence of maggots
>24 hours
61
Duration of death
| stages of food digestion in stomach
3-4 hours for stomach to evacuate contents after a meal
62
Duration of death
| Flea still alive, in cases of drowning
<24hours
63
Duration of death
| Presence/absence of soft tissue
1-2 years time
64
True about presumption of death
a. after an absence of 7 years, if it unknown whether the absentee still lives, he shall be presumed dead except for the purpose of succession
b. for the purpose of succession, absence of 12 years if unknown whether the absentee still lives, is presumed death
c. presumed dead after 4 years if person is on board a vessel lost during a sea voyage or an airplane
d. presumed dead after 4 years if person is in the armed forces who has taken part in war.
e. presumed dead after 4 years a mountain climber explorer, cave-in, miners, lost
B; 10 years`
65
rigor mortis duration
18-36 hours
66
T/F the disappearance of rigor mortis is concomittant to putrefaction
T
67
Duration of death
| Presence of post-mortem lividity
3-6 hours after death
68
Duration of death
| onset of decomposition
24-48 hours
69
Duration of death
| Presence of maggots
>24 hours
70
Duration of death
| stages of food digestion in stomach
3-4 hours for stomach to evacuate contents after a meal
71
Duration of death
| Flea still alive, in cases of drowning
<24hours
72
Duration of death
| Presence/absence of soft tissue
1-2 years time
73
True about presumption of death
a. after an absence of 7 years, if it unknown whether the absentee still lives, he shall be presumed dead except for the purpose of succession
b. for the purpose of succession, absence of 12 years if unknown whether the absentee still lives, is presumed death
c. presumed dead after 4 years if person is on board a vessel lost during a sea voyage or an airplane
d. presumed dead after 4 years if person is in the armed forces who has taken part in war.
e. presumed dead after 4 years a mountain climber explorer, cave-in, miners, lost
B; 10 years
74
Who is presumed survivor?
| both are under age of 15
the older is presumed to survive
75
Injury or disease was survived for a sufficiently prolonged interval
The proximate (secondary) cause of death
76
Who is presumed survivor?
| If one is under 15 the other is above 60
under 15
77
Who is presumed survivor?
| both are over 15 and under 60, sexes are same
older survived
78
Who is presumed survivor?
| both are over 15 and under 60, different sexes
male survived
79
one under 15 or over 60 and the other between those ages
between 15 and 60
80
a comprehensive study of a dead body performed by a trained physician employing recognized dissection procedure and techniques
autopsy
81
external examination of a dead body without incision being made, although blood and other fluids may be collected
post mortem examination
82
Manners of death that should be autopsied (7)
```
Death by violence
Accidental death
Suicides
Sudden Death of persons apparently of good health
death unattended by a physician
DOA Death occuring in unnatural manner
```
83
applies to cases when trauma or disease kill quickly. No sequelae or complications develop
Immediate (primary cause of death)
84
the physiologic derangement or biochemical disturbance incompatible with life
mechanism of death
85
explanation as to how the cause of death came into being or how the cause death rose
manner of death
86
fatality is caused solely by disease
natural death
87
death to injury of any sort
violent or unnatural death
88
violent deaths my be accompanied by minimal or no external evidence of injury or natural death where signs of violence may be present. Ths is called
Medicolegal masquerade
89
There is sudden death which occurs within seconds or a minute of relatively simple and ordinarily innocuous nature.
Instantaneous physiologic death
death from inhibition
death from primary shock
syncope with instantaneous exitus
90
unexplained death of infants usually under 6 months of age while in apparently good health
SIDS
91
known as bangungot or pok-kuri. This is sudden death of healthy young men seen in SEA countries
Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death
92
Medicolegal classification of the causes of death
| 3
Natural death
Violent death
Death of other causes
93
Penal Classification of violent deaths (7)
```
Accidental death
Negligent Death
Suicide Death
Parricidal Death
Infanticidal Death
Murder
Homicidal Death
```
94
The following is considered as accidental death
a. Death due to speedy car driver hitting a passing pedestrian causing her to be thrown some meters away.
b. Solitary driver dies after crashing into a tree, victim's foot is seen on the accelerator
c. Unconscious sleeping mother smothers infant
d. NOTA
C
95
True of Penal classification of violent deaths EXCEPT
a. death due to misadventure or accident is negligent death
b. The law does not punish the person commiting suicide, the person assisting in suicide is free of criminal liability
c. Killing of a common-law wife is parricide
d. Killing of a 5-day old infant is infanticide
e. NOTA (all are true)
f. AOTA (all are false)
F
a. deathdue to misadventure or accident is accidental death;
b. Person assisting suicide shall suffer prision temporal
c. Killing of a common law wife is not parricide
d. Killing of a child less than 3 days old is infanticide
96
Death due to reckless imprudence, negligence, lack of skill, lack of foresight is under the penal classification of violent deaths as ______
Negligent death
97
Acts punishable in giving assistance to suicide (3)
1. offender assissted in the commission of suicide of another which was consummated
2. The offender gave assistance in the commision of suicide to the extent of doing the killing himself which is consummated
3. Offender assisted another in the commission of suicide which is not consummated
98
True about parricide EXCEPT
a. killing of one's relative is considered parricide
b. A person needs to be killed by the offender
c. the person killed was the father, mother, or child, whether legitimate or illegitimate or any of his ascendants or descendants, or spouse of the offender
d. killing of one's illegitimated grandfather is parricide
e. NOTA (all are true)
D; not parricide
99
True of infanticide EXCEPT
a. killing of a child less than 3 days old is infanticide
b. even if the killer of a less than 3-day old infant is an illegitimate ascendant, it is still considered infanticide
c. if the killer of a 3 day old infant is an illigitimate father it , it is not considered parricide
d. AOTA (all are false)
e. NOTA (all are true)
B and C
100
The following is considered murder EXCEPT
a. any person killing another with treachery, taking advantage, superior strength, with the aid of armed men, employing means to weaken the defense or means of persons to insure or afford immunity
b. Any person killing another in consideration of a price, reward or promise
c. Any person killing another by means of inundation, fire, poison, explosion, or wih the use of any other means
d. Murder should not be infanticide or parricide
e. AOTA (all are false)
f. NOTA (all are true)
D
101
What is the legal classification of a death when:
- person is killed in a confused affray
- actual killer is unknown
- person/s who inflicted the serious physical injuries or violence are known
Death caused in a tumultuous affair
102
Requisites of surprise of the spouse ( Death under special circumstances)
1. There must be a valid marriage
2. The guilty spouse was caught by surprise in the act of committing sexual intercourse with another person.
3. The killing or the injury was inflicted to either or both at the very act or immediately thereafter
103
Requisites of surprise of a daughter ( Death under special circumstances )
1. The daughter is below 18 yrs old
2. Daughter is living with the parents
3. Parents caught her by surprise committing sexual intercourse with the seducer
4. Killing was done at the very act of sexual intercourse or immediately thereafter
104
Pathologic calssification of the causes of death (3)
Death from syncope
Death from asphyxia
Death from coma
105
Death to sudden and fatal cessation of the action of the heart with circulation included
Death from syncope
106
Death due to sudden supply of oxygen to the blood or to the tissues or to both has been reduced below normal working level
Death from asphyxia
107
Death from state of unconsciousness with insensibility of the pupil and conjunctivae and inability to swallow resulting from arrest of the function of the brain
Death from coma
108
Symptoms of asphyxia (3 stages)
Stage of increasing dyspnea (0.5-1min)
Stage of expiratory convulsion (1 min)
Stage of exhaustion (3min)
109
Stage of asphyxia where there is increased depth and rate of respiration leading to dyspnea, exaggerated movement of inspiratory muscles soon replaced by exaggerated expiration, increased bp, person becomes bluish and consciousness is loss, pupils contracted
Stage of increasing dyspnea (0.5-1 min)
110
Stage of asphyxia when person lies still except for occassional deep inspiration, bp falls, and pupils are dilated
Stage of exhaustion (3 min)
111
Stage of asphyxia when there is marked expiratory effort, convulsive movement of the limbs accompanied by expiratory effort. BP gradually lowers.
Stage of expiratory convulsion (1 min)
112
Post-mortem external findings in death from asphyxia
lividity of te lips, fingers, and toenails
livid marks on the skin
Marked post-mortem lividity
113
What are Tardieu spots?
Punctiform hemorrhages on the pleura. Internal findings in death from asphyxia
114
Additional post-mortem findings in death from coma aside from those also found in death from asphyxia
congestion of brain and spinal cord
115
deliberate and painless acceleration of death of a person usually suffering from incurable and distressing disease.
Mercy killing/euthanasia
116
Form of passive mercy killing where person is allowed to die a natural death without any operation or treatment.
Orthonasia
117
There is attempt to extend the life span of person by use of extraordinary treatments without which the person would have died earlier
Dysthanasia
118
T/F Dysthanasia is a form of euthanasia.
F
119
True about euthanasia
a. patient himself performs euthanasia is considered suicide
b. Physician performing euthanasia with consent of the patient is punishable
c. If poison was administered by the physician without the patient's knowledge, the act is considered murder
d. ATOA
e. NOTA
D
120
Stage of asphyxia when there is marked expiratory effort, convulsive movement of the limbs accompanied by expiratory effort. BP gradually lowers.
Stage of expiratory convulsion (1 min)
121
Post-mortem external findings in death from asphyxia
lividity of te lips, fingers, and toenails
livid marks on the skin
Marked post-mortem lividity
122
What are Tardieu spots?
Punctiform hemorrhages on the pleura. Internal findings in death from asphyxia
123
Additional post-mortem findings in death from coma aside from those also found in death from asphyxia
congestion of brain and spinal cord
124
deliberate and painless acceleration of death of a person usually suffering from incurable and distressing disease.
Mercy killing/euthanasia
125
Form of passive mercy killing where person is allowed to die a natural death without any operation or treatment.
Orthonasia
126
There is attempt to extend the life span of person by use of extraordinary treatments without which the person would have died earlier
Dysthanasia
127
T/F Dysthanasia is a form of euthanasia.
F
128
```
Psychological classification of suicide:
Impuslive, unplanned, under great provocation or mitigating circumstances
a. First deg
b. Second deg
c. Third deg
d. Lack of capacity for intention
e. self desturction due to self negligence
f. justifiable suicide
```
B
129
Acidental suicide is considered as
a. First deg
b. Second deg
c. Third deg
d. Lack of capacity for intention
e. self desturction due to self negligence
f. justifiable suicide
C
130
artificial way of preserving the body after death by injecting 6-8 quarts of antiseptic solutions of formalin, perchloride of mercury or arsenic
embalming
131
SUICIDE:Deliberate, planned, pre-meditated, self-murder
a. First deg
b. Second deg
c. Third deg
d. Lack of capacity for intention
e. self desturction due to self negligence
f. justifiable suicide
A
132
SUICIDE:Self-destructive behaviors such as chronic alcoholism, reckless driving, ignoring medical instructions, cigarette smoking, and similar dangerous activities
a. First deg
b. Second deg
c. Third deg
d. Lack of capacity for intention
e. self-destruction due to self negligence
f. justifiable suicide
E
133
Suicide when person was psychotic or highly intoxicated from the effects of drugs including alcohol
a. First deg
b. Second deg
c. Third deg
d. Lack of capacity for intention
e. self desturction due to self negligence
f. justifiable suicide
D
134
True about evidences that will infer death is suicidal EXCEPT:
a. History of depression, unresolved persnal problems, or mental disease suggests suicide
b. previous attempt to self-destruction suggests death is suicidal
c. Absence of signs of stuggle
d. There are two gunshot wounds
e. NOTA (all are true)
f. AOTA (all are false)
D
135
Length of survival without food
1/24th of its weight daily and a loss of 40% results to death
136
Length of survival without food and water
survival less than 10 days
137
Length of survival without food, with water,
50-60 days
138
what blood vessels are used embalming?
carotid and femoral arteries
139
True about disposal of dead bodies EXCEPT
a. the body must be buried within 48 hours if without communicable disease
b. disposing of the dead body in the sea may be done provided that the deceased is not suffering from dangerous communicable disease
c. it is not necessary to secure a permit for cremation
d. corpse of prisoners after judicial execution may be turned over to institutions of learning of scientific research
e. AOTA (all are false)
f. NOTA (all are true)
C; need permit
