ABMDI Investigating Infant and Child Deaths 2

Question 1

SUID (Sudden Unexpected Infant Death) investigations require a comprehensive scene response because:

Accepted Answer

Scene investigation provides critical data to distinguish SIDS from accidental suffocation, overlying, and non-accidental trauma

Answer

Scene investigation including sleep environment documentation is essential to differentiate SIDS from accidental suffocation, overlying, and inflicted injury.

Question 2

When investigating a suspected SIDS death, the MDI should use which of the following standardized tools?

Accepted Answer

CDC's Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigation (SUIDI) Reporting Form

Answer

The CDC's SUIDI Reporting Form provides a standardized, nationally validated tool for SUID scene investigations.

Question 3

Which pattern of injury in an infant raises the strongest concern for non-accidental trauma (child abuse)?

Accepted Answer

Multiple bruises of varying ages on non-mobile areas, unexplained by the caregiver's history

Answer

Multiple bruises in non-mobile locations (torso, ears, neck, face in a non-mobile infant) of varying ages and unexplained by history are highly concerning for abuse.

Question 4

Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) in infants may present with which autopsy finding?

Accepted Answer

Subdural hematoma, retinal hemorrhages, and diffuse axonal injury without evidence of external impact

Answer

AHT classically presents with the triad of subdural hematoma, retinal hemorrhages, and diffuse axonal injury, which may occur without visible external trauma.

Question 5

In child fatality investigations, sentinel injuries refer to:

Accepted Answer

Minor injuries (bruising, oral frenulum tear) that preceded the fatal event and were not evaluated medically

Answer

Sentinel injuries are often minor, pre-existing injuries that preceded fatal abuse. Their presence suggests ongoing abuse that went unrecognized or unreported.

ABMDI - American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators Practice Test

ABMDI - American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators Practice Test

ABMDI Investigating Infant and Child Deaths 2