American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Practice Exam

In a death scene, what should NOT be altered or moved before evidence collection?

1. The victim's clothing

2. The location of the body

3. Any items that may be evidence

4. The lighting in the room

The correct answer is: Any items that may be evidence

In a death scene investigation, maintaining the integrity of potential evidence is paramount. This includes preserving anything that could provide insights into the circumstances surrounding the death. Items that may be evidence must not be altered or moved to ensure that they can be analyzed accurately without contamination or loss of context. Moving or disturbing these items can compromise their evidentiary value and lead to incorrect conclusions during the investigation. The victim's clothing, the location of the body, and the lighting in the room may also have crucial relevance in an investigation, but they serve different purposes compared to items that are considered direct evidence. For instance, while the clothing can give context to the situation, altering the actual evidence itself has more direct consequences on the investigation outcomes. Therefore, it is vital to refrain from altering or moving items that may serve as evidence before they are collected and assessed properly.