Introduction to MDI Flashcards
What is a coroner?
An elected official and no need to have a medical background
What is a medical examiner?
A forensic pathologist with an educational background
What is a medicolegal death investigator?
Trained personnel who respond to death scenes and assist the forensic pathologist
What is the most important responsibility?
First Rule Out Homicide
What are the steps in a death investigation?
Initial Contact
Information Gathering
Scene Assessment
Scene Photography
Body Assessment
What is the definition of “Death”
The “irreversible cessation of circulation and respiration”
What is Cause of Death?
Injuries or conditions that may have led to the death of a person. A few examples of cause of death include, blunt force trauma, sharp force trauma and asphyxiation.
What is Manner of Death?
How a death has happened. Can be classified under five categories, natural, accidental, suicide, homicide, or undetermined
What are some ways to determine jurisdiction?
if there is trauma, it is always the the coroner or medical examiners case
if they lived alone
death at a workplace
signs of drug use
if victim had loss of limbs (need to know reason to determine if the loss of the limb was the reason they are dead now)
scene concerns
How is brain death defined?
the irreversible cessation of respiratory and circulatory functions, or the irreversible cessations of the function of the whole brain including the brain stem.
What is Rigor Mortis?
Stiffening of muscles and joints
What is Algor Mortis?
Reduction of body temperature
What is Livor Mortis
Purplish discoloration
What are some types of death investigations?
Medicolegal, institution-based, and private
What are some ancillary agencies that can be involved in a death investigation?
Children and Youth, Office of Aging, OSHA, and Dept. of Health
