CMT Decedent Identification & Intake Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Livor mortis (lividity) refers to which postmortem change, and what information can it provide?
- The stiffening of muscles; it indicates the decedent's age at death
- The purplish discoloration caused by blood settling due to gravity; it can help estimate time and position of death (Correct answer)
- The decomposition of soft tissue; it indicates the presence of infectious disease
- The cooling of the body to ambient temperature; it is used to calculate time since death
Correct answer: The purplish discoloration caused by blood settling due to gravity; it can help estimate time and position of death
Livor mortis is the purplish-red discoloration caused by gravity-driven pooling of blood after circulation ceases, and its location and fixity can help estimate time of death and postmortem body position.
Question 2: Approximately when does rigor mortis typically begin after death, and how long does it generally last?
- Begins immediately and lasts 2–4 hours
- Begins 2–6 hours after death and resolves within 24–48 hours (Correct answer)
- Begins 12 hours after death and is permanent without embalming
- Begins within 30 minutes and lasts up to 72 hours
Correct answer: Begins 2–6 hours after death and resolves within 24–48 hours
Rigor mortis typically begins 2–6 hours after death, reaches maximum stiffness around 12 hours, and resolves within 24–48 hours as muscles decompose.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of a body receipt form completed during decedent intake?
- To authorize the family to select funeral merchandise
- To document the legal transfer of custody and note the condition of the remains at the time of receipt (Correct answer)
- To record the names of all funeral home employees who will work on the case
- To indicate which disposition method the family has pre-selected
Correct answer: To document the legal transfer of custody and note the condition of the remains at the time of receipt
A body receipt form documents the legal transfer of custody from one party to the funeral home and records the condition of the remains, providing a baseline record that protects all parties.
Question 4: Prior to cremation, why must a mortuary technician check whether the decedent has an implanted cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator?
- Because the device must be removed to avoid explosion hazards within the cremation chamber (Correct answer)
- Because the device's data must be downloaded and sent to the cardiologist
- Because pacemakers are required to be buried separately under federal law
- Because the device may interfere with embalming fluid circulation
Correct answer: Because the device must be removed to avoid explosion hazards within the cremation chamber
Pacemakers and defibrillators contain batteries and sealed components that can explode at cremation temperatures, posing a serious safety hazard to staff and equipment.
Question 5: What personal protective equipment (PPE) does OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard require when a mortuary technician handles human remains?
- Only a lab coat and safety glasses
- Gloves, gown or apron, eye protection, and mask or face shield as appropriate for the task (Correct answer)
- Only disposable gloves
- A full hazmat suit for every removal regardless of known health history
Correct answer: Gloves, gown or apron, eye protection, and mask or face shield as appropriate for the task
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) requires appropriate PPE including gloves, protective clothing, and eye/face protection based on the anticipated exposure level.
Question 6: When transporting human remains across state lines, which document is commonly required by receiving states?
- Only a signed statement from the attending physician
- A transit permit or transportation permit issued by the state where death occurred (Correct answer)
- A signed release form from the decedent's next of kin only
- An interstate commerce waiver from the U.S. Department of Transportation
Correct answer: A transit permit or transportation permit issued by the state where death occurred
Most states require a transit permit issued by the state of death before human remains can be legally transported across state lines to another jurisdiction.
Question 7: What is the purpose of maintaining 'chain of custody' documentation throughout the intake and preparation process?
- To track which employees are eligible for overtime pay on a given case
- To create a verifiable record of every person who had custody of or access to the decedent, ensuring accountability and preventing misidentification (Correct answer)
- To document the chain of command for supervisory approval of embalming decisions
- To satisfy insurance company requirements for claim processing
Correct answer: To create a verifiable record of every person who had custody of or access to the decedent, ensuring accountability and preventing misidentification
Chain of custody documentation creates an unbroken, verifiable record of all individuals who handled the decedent, which is essential for legal accountability and preventing catastrophic misidentification errors.
CMT Decedent Identification & Intake Procedures 2
Livor mortis (lividity) refers to which postmortem change, and what information can it provide?