ABMDI Certification Exam: Questions and Answers, Exams of Nursing

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ABMDI CERTIFICATION EXAM

NEWEST ACTUAL EXAM 2025

QUESTIONS AND DETAILED CORRECT

ANSWERS| ALREADY GRADED A+

When you are approached by the NOK who has some questions regarding the autopsy findings of a natural death, which of the following would be the most appropriate response? a. refer them to the dpt's admin to get a signed release of information form before releasing findings b. refer them directly to the pathologist who performed the autopsy c. discuss the autopsy findings with the NOK. If needed, direct them to the pathologist who performed the autopsy. d. release your medical interpretation of the pathologist's COD e. advise them to have their family dr. explain the autopsy findings to them Correct Answer c. discuss the autopsy findings with the NOK. If needed, direct them to the pathologist who performed the autopsy. If you are discussing an old suicide case with a family member who presents new evidence, you must: a. contact the DA at once b. reestablish contact with the pathologist and the investigating agency to provide the new info c. be ready for and patient with family denial

d. ask who will benefit from the insurance policies if the death was not a suicide e. promise to reinvestigate with the FBI then do it Correct Answer b. reestablish contact with the pathologist and the investigating agency to provide the new info You receive confirmation that a previously unidentified victim of homicide has been positively ID'd by fingerprints. You should first: a. notify the media b. notify the proper LE agency c. document the ID in the case file d. inform your supervisor e. notify NOK Correct Answer c. document the ID in the case file In a 2 day old homicide case, the pathologist identified the COD as six stab wounds to the chest and neck. When the victim's father telephones to ask for details of the autopsy results, you should: a. explain that bc no suspect has been identified the results are being revealed only to the investigative agency at the present time b. explain that because no suspect has been identified the results are being revealed only to the family and investigative agency at the present time and that he must not reveal them to anyone else c. inform him of the 6 stab wounds to the chest and neck d. tell him that no info will be released until a suspect is in custody

e. do nothing Correct Answer a. explain that bc no suspect has been identified the results are being revealed only to the investigative agency at the present time When interviewing family members before they view the deceased, be sure to: a. advise them that they will not be allowed to touch the body b. describe the basic procedures that the ME performed c. make sincere sounding excuses for the time delay before the body can be released d. explain that the victim's personal property can be released only to a funeral director e. describe what they are about to see step by step Correct Answer e. describe what they are about to see step by step A clandestine methamphetamine laboratory has exploded, and the chemist's body is on the scene. You may undertake your scene investigation when: a. the staging area has been erected b. the police and FD think the scene is safe c. the FD and hazardous materials team think the scene is safe d. the FD and police chief have completed their investigation e. proper safety precautions have been taken Correct Answer e. proper safety precautions have been taken/c. the FD and hazardous materials team think the scene is safe

You arrive at an outdoor homicide scene, and you find that the crime scene tape binds too small a perimeter. Onlookers and media are beginning to gather. You should: a. not "fuel" the crowd by moving them because the scene has already been contaminated b. remove the body from the scene as quickly as possible to prevent creating an unruly mob and hostile media c. immediately take down the tape and enlarge the perimeter d. tell the investigating police agency to begin arresting onlookers if they cannot control themselves e. keep the tape in place and instruct the investigating agency to enlarge the perimeter Correct Answer e. keep the tape in place and instruct the investigating agency to enlarge the perimeter The police notify your office of a death and tell you that the subject was pronounced dead by a home health care nurse who is an LPN. Can the pronouncement be valid? a. regardless of your jurisdiction, a nurse can never pronounce a subject dead. b. depending on your local and state law, the pronouncement may be valid. c. No, a death investigator is the only person who can determine whether a subject is dead. d. Only if the LPN is registered as a home hospice nurse. e. No. a subject cannot be pronounced dead unless an EKG is performed. Correct Answer b. depending on your local and state law, the pronouncement may be valid.

When death investigators come in contact with an unidentified body, the best form of identification (when available) are fingerprints. The second best form of ID is: a. unique markings on the body, such as a tattoo b. a physical description c. analysis of the skeletal remains by a forensic anthropologist d. comparison of radiographs e. congenital defects Correct Answer d. comparison of radiographs The most important reason for taking an overall (wide- angle) photograph of the scene is to: a. show the weather conditions b. spatially locate the specific scene to the surrounding area c. create a permanent record of marks on the body d. show tool marks and tattoos e. collect a photo that can be used for ID Correct Answer b. spatially locate the specific scene to the surrounding area There is a knife handle protruding from the chest of a homicide victim. Which statement is false? a. It is best to leave the knife in place to enable the pathologist to fully evaluate the injury. b. It is best to leave the knife intact so that it can be x- rayed. c. It is best to remove the knife and turn it over to PD immediately, to reduce the chain of custody and allow the knife to be processed for fingerprints.

d. It is best to leave the knife in place and preserve any fingerprint evidence on the knife handle by protecting the handle with a brown paper bag. e. None of the above Correct Answer c. It is best to remove the knife and turn it over to PD immediately, to reduce the chain of custody and allow the knife to be processed for fingerprints. A major part of documenting a violent death scene investigation should include: a. thoroughly photographing the emergency medical personnel removing the body b. interviewing all possible eye witnesses c. videotaping the crime scene d. making a complete sketch of the scene e. thoroughly photographing the scene Correct Answer e. thoroughly photographing the scene When packaging items for the laboratory, you should: a. put all like items in the same package b. clean any biohazard material from the items before packaging. c. put all items in separate plastic packages. d. put all items in separate packages. e. put all items from the same location in the same package. Correct Answer d. put all items in separate packages. Three teenage males reportedly have been playing "Russian roulette". The manner of death for one victim,

who was found to have a contact range wound to the right temple, is: a. dictated by the personal philosophy of the certifier b. homicide c. natural d. suicide e. accident Correct Answer a. dictated by the personal philosophy of the certifier Prescription medication at the scene must be: a. collected and released to the next of kin b. checked if issued by a physician, then left at the scene c. inventoried, collected, and safeguarded either at the scene or the office. d. turned over to the law enforcement officer with jurisdiction at the scene e. collected by the medicolegal death investigator and destroyed. Correct Answer c. inventoried, collected, and safeguarded either at the scene or the office. You are investigating the death of an unidentified person. A search of the subject's pockets turns up an ID card without a facial photograph on it. You should: a. assume that the subject is who the ID says he is. b. search the body for further ID; if you don't find any, just use the ID card that was in his pocket. c. be aware that an ID card that does not contain a facial picture should never be used to make a positive identification d. be aware that it's not the concern of your office to obtain a positive ID of any deceased. This is a police matter

e. assume that the subject has a fingerprint file. Correct Answer c. be aware that an ID card that does not contain a facial picture should never be used to make a positive identification The basic purpose of crime scene photography is: a. to document the crime scene b. to support the sketch of the scene c. to show the benefits of color film. d. to persuade judges and juries. e. to provide educational material. Correct Answer a. to document the crime scene Homicide detectives at the scene of a sex-related death ask that the deceased be fingerprinted immediately to expedite identification. Which statement describes the proper action to take? a. photograph the hands and then allow fingerprinting to take place. b. allow fingerprinting while at the scene. Immediate identification of the deceased is crucial. c. place paper bags on the hands to protect any trace evidence and assure the police that the body will be fingerprinted in a timely manner after evidence collection d. have the homicide detectives call their supervisor and ask his/her advice. e. point out to the detectives that fingerprinting can be done only during autopsy. Correct Answer c. place paper bags on the hands to protect any trace evidence and assure the police that the body will be fingerprinted in a timely manner after evidence collection

Why is it necessary, when in a residence or apartment, or when going through personal belongings of the deceased, to do this in the presence of an independent witness? Correct Answer - to avoid accusations at a later date

• allegations of theft by family
• mention and make receipts for evidence or property taken from scene
• maintain chain of custody of all items You are at the scene of a sudden and unexpected death of a 16 month old child. The family members want to hold the child. What should you do? a. Tell them they should have thought about that before, and to leave the child alone. You must collect evidence at this time. b. Consider the evidence you have discovered to this point and make a professional decision based on those facts, always taking the family into consideration. c. Place the body in a body bag and tell the family that they can view the body after the pathologist has completed an autopsy. d. Advise them of the federal statute that prohibits handling evidence during the conducting of an investigation e. Point out to all family members (except the mother) that the rights of the child supercede theirs, and that they will have a chance to hold the child after the investigation is complete. Correct Answer b. Consider the evidence you have discovered to this point and make a professional

decision based on those facts, always taking the family into consideration. Immediately upon arriving at the scene of a death, the death investigator should do which of the following? a. make sure sufficient boundaries are established b. be interviewed by the media c. identify and contact the law enforcement officer in charge d. assign an officer to guard the scene if the investigator suspects problems e. all of the above Correct Answer c. identify and contact the law enforcement officer in charge The first priority at a homicide death scene is usually: a. securing and protecting the scene b. administering first aid to any injured persons c. establishing a command center d. investigating e. interviewing all witnesses Correct Answer b. administering first aid to any injured persons A death investigator would identify bite marks, fingerprints, organic materials, tracks and impressions, grass fragments, and clothing as being examples of: a. hard evidence b. physical evidence c. criminal evidence d. trace evidence e. transfer evidence Correct Answer b. physical evidence

In a death investigation, evidence is generally considered to be: a. any materials that contribute to establishing cause and manner of death b. proof that a crime has been committed c. information that will provide proof for the prosecution d. all items photographed and taken from the scene e. the means of solving a crime Correct Answer a. any materials that contribute to establishing cause and manner of death In identifying and collecting trace evidence at the death scene, which of the following should NOT be done? a. taking photographs of the body, showing where evidence is b. removing all evidence from the body c. sealing the evidence in a package with an evidence seal d. Marking all evidence with a number for later identification e. selecting an appropriate means to package or preserve the evidence Correct Answer b. removing all evidence from the body Maintaining the "chain of evidence" refers to: a. the events leading up to the time of death b. the strength of the evidence c. the relationship of the evidence to the type of crime d. accountability for the evidence e. the list of materials used to process the evidence Correct Answer d. accountability for the evidence

Without following laws related to the collection of evidence, the death investigator is: a. risking the lives of individuals at the scene b. risking the integrity of all evidence collected c. risking the loss of the case d. acting reasonably based on his/her training e. looking out for all agencies involved in the case Correct Answer b. risking the integrity of all evidence collected Forensic labs have a difficult time analyzing evidence: a. that is not collected using appropriate techniques b. that is not directly associated with the case c. that other agencies have collected and transported d. used in multiple cases e. that does not have the investigator's name on it Correct Answer a. that is not collected using appropriate techniques A "standard" of comparison is used to: a. judge the relative size and shape of collected evidence b. attempt to make "before and after" comparisons c. show the material in its "natural" or "found as" state d. to compare characteristics (e.g., color, fading, texture, etc.) e. all of the above Correct Answer e. all of the above Which of the following MUST notify the coroner/ME promptly upon discovery of a suspicious death? a. law enforcement official b. funeral director c. EMT or paramedic

d. ER room physician e. all of the above Correct Answer e. all of the above A 35 year old white female, who was employed as a waitress, unexpectedly dies at work. An autopsy confirms the cause of death as bacterial meningitis. Which of the following agencies must be notified promptly? a. emergency medical association b. department of public health c. department of OSHA d. department of children and family services e. food and drug administration Correct Answer b. department of public health You have received a call in regard to a natural death at a residence. Your investigation should include: a. establishing a cause and manner of death at the scene b. accepting family members' opinions as to the COD c. contacting the physician of the deceased d. basing your conclusions on the opinion of paramedics at the scene e. forming an opinion as to the COD based on types of meds prescribed Correct Answer c. contacting the physician of the deceased You are on scene of a homicide and the police tell you that the media want you to release the subject's name and information about the case. You should: a. take them with you to the scene b. follow office policy and procedures that your office has established for dealing with media

c. tell the media that you will not give them any information but that you will let them take pictures of the body d. let the police make the press release on behalf of your office e. give the media the basic information Correct Answer b. follow office policy and procedures that your office has established for dealing with media In general, which of the following is not normally considered for organ/tissue procurement purposes? a. heart valves b. long bones and pelvis c. kidneys d. tendon and veins e. reproductive organs Correct Answer e. reproductive organs The pathologist must be alerted to religious requests from the family: a. before the victim's body is taken from hospital b. after the autopsy before the body is taken to the funeral home c. before the victim's body is taken from the scene d. only if the religion requires it e. before the autopsy is performed Correct Answer e. before the autopsy is performed Retort Correct Answer a vessel or chamber in which substances are decomposed by heat

To establish a working relationship with law enforcement personnel at the death scene, you should: a. discuss case facts with the officer in charge and proceed appropriately b. present the statutory citations for your authority to the officer in charge c. introduce yourself; talk briefly about your responsibilities and listen to theirs d. wait until your supervisor takes you around and introduces you e. keep to yourself until you know the facts of the case Correct Answer c. introduce yourself; talk briefly about your responsibilities and listen to theirs When investigating a death, it is best to: a. use all available resources b. get all scene investigative information from LE c. work alone d. disregard how problems affect personnel e. not listen to other or ask questions Correct Answer a. use all available resources List the key attributes of nonverbal communication Correct Answer Eye movement, physical gestures, and facial expressions Jurisdiction Correct Answer the power or authority a court or office has over individuals or trauma Authorization for organ/tissue procurement is considered valid if:

a. the legal next of kin or representative has given consent b. an emergency room physician gives permission c. a donor card with the decedent's name is found in the wallet or purse d. the decedent's physician will verify that donation was the decedent's request e. a donor designation appears on the decedent's drivers license Correct Answer a. the legal next of kin or representative has given consent The deceased is separated from his/her spouse. The NOK would be: a. oldest surviving relative b. separated spouse c. parents d. siblings e. adult children Correct Answer b. separated spouse Disinterment Correct Answer the opening of a grave and removal of the body for the purpose of reexamination or removal to another site A medicolegal death investigator may release copies of a decedent's medical records to: a. defense attorneys b. rescue squad members c. insurance investigators d. district attorneys e. none of the above Correct Answer e. none of the above

Brain death Correct Answer final cessation of activity in the central nervous system, as indicated by a flat electroencephalogram (EEG) or absence of cerebral blood flow for a predetermined period of time When you are investigating a death, you should:. a. have law enforcement personnel at the scene with you to summarize the scene findings b. allow the family to call the doctor to get the decedent's medical history c. write in your narrative your opinion regarding who is responsible for the death d. avoid asking the family sensitive questions e. ask who what when where why and how Correct Answer e. ask who what when where why and how Cardiac death Correct Answer final cessation of activity in the cardiovascular system involving the heart and blood vessels Cessation Correct Answer the final stoppage of action In constructing a narrative report, the main idea is to relate: a. the main reason for the death b. background information regarding the condition of the body c. your involvement in the case d. how the deceased was identified e. an overall and concise view of what happened Correct Answer e. an overall and concise view of what happened

Most tissue can be removed from the body up to _____ hours from the time of death. Correct Answer 24 List the key points to remember when writing a report to other agencies to use/review. Correct Answer Information is of little use unless it is properly documented and communicated to others in a clear and concise manner. Included in the report should be references to who, what, where, when, how. What authorizations must be in place before OPO can take place? Correct Answer Written permission from the decedent's legal NOK Anencephalic Correct Answer an infant born without a brain When communicating with the media, it is important for each death investigator to remember that he/she is: a. a receiver of both work and personal messages b. an independent agent communicating the facts as he/she interprets them c. a sender of both work related and personal messages d. a sender and receiver of both work related and personal messages e. a provider of feedback only Correct Answer d. a sender and receiver of both work related and personal messages Bereavement Correct Answer sorrow following the death of a loved one

Following the decision that death has occurred, ER staff should: a. leave the body intact and notify the coroner/ME b. remove tubes, lines, and medical apparatus and prepare the body for family viewing c. use the cadaver for training and practice intubation or intravenous injection d. seal the bloody clothing in a plastic bag, placing their initials date time over evidence tape e. bag and tag the body after NOK have made positive ID Correct Answer a. leave the body intact and notify the coroner/ME List the hierarchy of NOK Correct Answer surviving spouse surviving children or their legal guardian surviving parents surviving siblings surviving grandparents other relatives Official pronouncement of death can be accomplished by Correct Answer determined by state statute and local customs Authorization to conduct a medicolegal autopsy must be provided by: a. the decedent's NOK b. the coroner or ME when jurisdiction is established c. a will or other document signed before death

d. the treating physician e. all of the above Correct Answer b. the coroner or ME when jurisdiction is established Your office is investigating a suspected SIDS death. You should notify your statewide SIDS program ________. Correct Answer ASAP following autopsy The death investigator and a police officer arrive at the scene within minutes of each other. a. the PD is in charge and directs the work b. the death investigator is in charge and directs the work c. the best approach is a team approach to perfoming the work d. each has specific responsibilities to perform, and they should not interact e. work together only if necessary; you represent different agencies Correct Answer c. the best approach is a team approach to perfoming the work Choose one of the most important communication skills for gathering information at the scene: a. talk to all neighbors b. listen and actively study witnesses c. write down your thoughts d. avoid eye contact with suspects e. none of the above Correct Answer b. listen and actively study witnesses

When obtaining information about a decedent from family members, the first priority should always be to obtain information from: a. the family member who seems the most stable b. the family member who last saw/talked with the decedent, or has firsthand knowledge regarding the circumstances surrounding the death/medical history. c. decedent's PCP d. family member who is in control of family unit e. police officer who found body Correct Answer b. the family member who last saw/talked with the decedent, or has firsthand knowledge regarding the circumstances surrounding the death/medical history. Family members often ask why the medical examiner/coroner is involved. When discussing the case with family, what is the best prescribed answer to give them? Correct Answer explain what is believed to have occurred (homicide, suicide, unexpected death) and why we are investigating When investigating a homicide death case, you discover the victim and family are orthodox Jews. The family voice their objection based on religious belief to an autopsy. Which is the best recommended procedure to follow? Correct Answer Counsel the family. Explain the circumstances surrounding the investigation and why (criminal prosecution, etc.) the autopsy needs to be performed.

If the deceased is decomposed, mutilated, or burned beyond recognition and the family still insists for religious or cultural reasons on viewing the body, the investigator should Correct Answer Prepare the family before viewing with a verbal explanation and possibly photographs of the remains When family members ask what mortuary should we use- what is the proper response? Correct Answer consult the local telephone directory If the deceased has some minor facial scrapes and bruises, you should tell the persons who will be viewing him/her: a. to ignore the fact that the decedent has facial injuries b. that some minor scraps are present, but the funeral home may be able to cover them cosmetically later c. nothing so that you do not influence the legality of the identification d. that the deceased did not suffer e. that the FH can fix anything and they can have a better viewing later Correct Answer b. that some minor scraps are present, but the funeral home may be able to cover them cosmetically later When identifying and collecting trace evidence at the scene, the investigator should do all EXCEPT ONE of the following: a. identify the methods necessary to "lift" or remove necessary trace evidence

b. Take a photograph of the body, showing where the evidence is located c. Select an appropriate means to package or preserve the evidence d. Collect hair samples prior to examination by the medical examiner or coroner e. Determine the specialist that should be called to analyze the evidence (if necessary) Correct Answer d. Collect hair samples prior to examination by the medical examiner or coroner The BEST way to transfer evidence is to: a. mail it in a sealed container b. ship if Federal Express or UPS c. deliver it in person d. have someone from your office deliver it e. have the lab send someone over to pick it up from the your office receptionist Correct Answer c. deliver it in person The _________________ the "chain" in the chain of custody, the better. a. smaller b. larger c. wider d. stronger e. it does not matter Correct Answer a. smaller When a decedent is discovered in a public place and a crowd has gathered, the investigator should:

a. immediately move the body to the morgue and evaluate it there b. have the body shielded from view (by using a clean sheet, line of officers, automobile, etc.) and conduct a death scene investigation c. conduct a death scene investigation without covering the body because covering it may detract from the integrity of photographs of the scene d. conduct a death scene investigation without covering the body to ensure that no trace evidence is transferred onto the covering material e. order the police to disperse the crowd Correct Answer b. have the body shielded from view (by using a clean sheet, line of officers, automobile, etc.) and conduct a death scene investigation A 32 year old male dies of AIDS; 30 days after the decedent's funeral, it is permissible for the death investigator to: a. release pictures taken at the scene to the media b. disclose information about the death to interested parties as permissible by statute c. inform the media as to the cause of death d. release information to the legal next of kin e. none of the above Correct Answer b. disclose information about the death to interested parties as permissible by statute The investigator arrives at an outdoor scene where there is a crowd of onlookers. Police officers are standing

around the nude body of a young female victim. Which is the BEST step for the investigator to take? a. cover the body with a clean sheet or covering. b. proceed with the investigation c. stand with the police officers until the crowd is pushed back, and then cover the body d. cover the body with a blanket recovered from a nearby home e. do nothing Correct Answer a. cover the body with a clean sheet or covering. If a body is not identified within a reasonable time, the investigator should: a. have the body buried, after having exhausted all scientific methods of investigation b. put an ad in the newspaper with a description of the body and ask for the public's assistance in the identification c. keep the body for a reasonable time and see whether anyone telephones the office looking for a missing person who fits the description of the unidentified individual d. contact the local PD and complete an NCIC form e. all of the above Correct Answer e. all of the above If a dead person has been identified and the family has been notified of the death but refuses to take responsibility for disposing of the body, it is the investigator's responsibility to: a. notify the family of the office procedures that will be followed to dispose of the body