Introduction to MDI Flashcards
What is a coroner?
AR
An elected official and no need to have a medical background
What is a medical examiner?
AR
A forensic pathologist with an educational background
What is a medicolegal death investigator?
AR
Trained personnel who respond to death scenes and assist the forensic pathologist
What is the most important responsibility?
AR
First Rule Out Homicide
What are the steps in a death investigation?
AR
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
What is Locards’ Principle of Exchange? KW
Every Contact Leaves a Trace.
What is the ABMDI, and what two types of certifications does it offer? KW
The American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators.
Diplomatic (Basic) and Fellow (Advanced)
What are the qualifications to be a Coroner in the state of Pennsylvania? KW
Must be ≥18 years old, Registered to vote, and Not a Felon.
The Advancement of what caused the definition of “death” to be challenged in the 1960’s? KW
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and advanced life sustaining Equipment.
True or False: Coroners can perform their own autopsies. KW
FALSE
T or F: Hospital autopsies are currently performed in more than 50% of hospital deaths. MH
False
What is the minimum education requirement for a medicolegal death investigator to be eligible for board certification? MH
Associates degree
What are some of the ancillary agencies that are involved with death investigation? MH
Children and Youth, Office of Aging, Occupational
Safety and Health Association (OSHA) and Department of Health.
What data element of medicolegal death investigation involves recent trauma, prescriptions, procedures performed, and previous pregnancy? MH
Medical History
T or F: The definition of ‘brain dead’ or ‘what is dead’ has changed 3x and has the possibility to change again. MH
True
