ABMDI Investigative Documentation and Reports 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The MDI's investigative report should be written in which style?
- First-person narrative with emotional interpretation of findings
- Objective, factual, third-person documentation of observations, actions, and information gathered (Correct answer)
- Legal brief format following state criminal code conventions
- Summary bullet points without narrative explanation
Correct answer: Objective, factual, third-person documentation of observations, actions, and information gathered
MDI reports should be objective, factual, and written in a professional format that documents observations and information without personal interpretation or emotional language.
Investigative reports become legal documents and may be used in court proceedings. They should document scene observations, body condition, witness statements (verbatim quotes when possible), evidence collected, notifications made, and times of all actions. Opinions or interpretations should be labeled as such.
Question 2: When should an MDI complete the initial investigative report?
- Within one year of the investigation
- As soon as possible after the investigation while details are fresh, per office policy (often within 24-72 hours) (Correct answer)
- Only after the autopsy is complete and findings are known
- Report completion is optional if law enforcement has already filed a report
Correct answer: As soon as possible after the investigation while details are fresh, per office policy (often within 24-72 hours)
Initial reports should be completed as soon as possible after the investigation while observations are fresh, typically within the timeframe set by office policy.
Delayed report writing increases the risk of memory errors, omissions, and inaccuracies. Most ME/coroner offices require initial reports within 24-72 hours of scene response. Contemporaneous notes (field notes) should be taken at the scene and used to complete the formal report.
Question 3: A photograph taken at a death scene is most useful as evidence when it:
- Is taken by law enforcement only, not the MDI
- Includes a scale marker, proper labeling (case number, date, direction), and is taken before any scene disturbance (Correct answer)
- Shows only the decedent and not the surrounding scene context
- Is taken with maximum zoom to capture only injuries
Correct answer: Includes a scale marker, proper labeling (case number, date, direction), and is taken before any scene disturbance
Forensic photographs require scale markers for size reference, proper documentation labels, and must be taken before any disturbance to preserve context and admissibility.
A complete photographic documentation protocol includes overall shots establishing scene context, mid-range shots showing the body in relation to surroundings, and close-up shots of specific injuries or evidence, all with and without scale markers. Photographs should be labeled with case number, date, and photographer.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a scene sketch or diagram in death investigation documentation?
- To replace the need for photographs in most cases
- To provide a scaled diagram showing spatial relationships between the body, evidence items, and scene features (Correct answer)
- To document the MDI's opinion about the manner of death
- To satisfy the medical examiner's administrative filing requirement only
Correct answer: To provide a scaled diagram showing spatial relationships between the body, evidence items, and scene features
Scene sketches document spatial relationships and measurements that photographs cannot fully convey, providing a scaled representation of the scene.
Scene diagrams document body position, distances between the body and objects, room dimensions, point of entry and exit, location of evidence items, and north orientation. They are drawn to scale and complement photographs. In court, a scene diagram can help jurors visualize the scene.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes the opinion section of a medicolegal death investigation report?
- The opinion section is where the MDI states the final cause and manner of death
- The MDI may summarize findings and their investigative significance, noting that cause and manner are the medical examiner's determination (Correct answer)
- MDI reports never include opinion sections
- The opinion must cite at least three peer-reviewed references
Correct answer: The MDI may summarize findings and their investigative significance, noting that cause and manner are the medical examiner's determination
MDIs may summarize findings in an opinion section but must be clear that the final cause and manner of death determination belongs to the medical examiner, not the MDI.
The formal determination of cause and manner of death is the medical examiner's responsibility and legal authority. MDI opinions should be framed as investigative impressions or findings consistent with rather than definitive conclusions. This distinction is critical in court.
Question 6: MDI documentation of time of death should include which of the following elements?
- The exact time determined by the MDI using postmortem changes only
- The last known alive time, the found-dead time, and estimated postmortem interval range based on scene and physical findings (Correct answer)
- Only the coroner's official pronouncement time
- The time listed on the 911 call as the time of death
Correct answer: The last known alive time, the found-dead time, and estimated postmortem interval range based on scene and physical findings
Time of death documentation should include last known alive time, found dead time, and an estimated postmortem interval range based on multiple physical and environmental findings.
True time of death is often unknowable. The MDI should document last known alive time (from witnesses or records), found-dead time, and estimated postmortem interval range based on rigor, livor, decomposition, body temperature, and environmental factors. The 911 call time is when the body was discovered, not when death occurred.
ABMDI Investigative Documentation and Reports 2
The MDI's investigative report should be written in which style?