Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Flashcards
6 cards from real ABMDI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Legal and Ethical Responsibilities flashcards as text
MDI authority to take jurisdiction over a body at a private residence is derived from:
Answer: State statute granting the medical examiner or coroner legal authority over specified categories of death
MDI authority at a scene derives from state law, specifically statutes that define the categories of death subject to ME or coroner jurisdiction.
Which of the following actions by an MDI would constitute a breach of confidentiality?
Answer: Discussing case details at a public location where the decedent's name and circumstances could be overheard
Discussing case details with identifying information in a public setting where they may be overheard breaches confidentiality, even if unintentional.
Informed consent from next of kin is generally NOT required for which of the following procedures in a ME/coroner jurisdiction?
Answer: Performing an autopsy authorized by the medical examiner under statutory authority
Medical examiners have statutory authority to perform autopsies in their jurisdiction without family consent when legally required. The authority comes from statute, not family permission.
An MDI discovers during a scene investigation that law enforcement officers handled the body before the MDI arrived, potentially altering the scene. The MDI's ethical responsibility is to:
Answer: Document the altered state, note what alterations occurred (as reported by law enforcement), and include this in the investigative report
The MDI must accurately document the scene as found, including any alterations, and report these in the official investigative record.
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) applies to MDI investigations in which way?
Answer: Medical records of deceased persons may be accessed for authorized investigations under HIPAA's law enforcement and public health exceptions
HIPAA includes exceptions for law enforcement, public health, and medicolegal investigations, allowing MDIs to access deceased persons' medical records for authorized investigations.
When an MDI faces a conflict of interest in a case (e.g., the decedent is a personal acquaintance), the appropriate action is to:
Answer: Disclose the conflict to the supervising ME/coroner and request reassignment
Conflicts of interest must be disclosed to supervisors and the case reassigned to maintain the integrity of the investigation and protect both the MDI and the office.