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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does a cause of death of 'psychosis with exhaustion' really mean, according to Baden?

2. What event forced Scotland Yard to begin examining the role of the coroner?

3. What group was set up in 1977 to help explain the Kennedy assassination?

4. Who was the first victim on which autopsy was performed in a murder investigation?

5. What are symptoms of ricin poisoning?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain why Baden believes people go into particular medical professions.

2. Explain Baden's experience of the convergence of hospital medicine and the morgue, and why the event had an impact on him.

3. Explain how ricin came into fame in 1978.

4. Summarize Baden's beliefs about what the DA expects an ME to do during autopsy, when issuing a cause of death or other findings.

5. Explain what Baden notes occurs by the French Revolution as a way to bring bodies to medical schools for science.

6. What happened to much of the evidence in the Kennedy assassination case, and what does Baden believe occurred?

7. In the end of Chapter One, the report given to the FBI suggests two shooters. Explain the event that prompted the committee to suggest this.

8. Many cases are mentioned in Chapter Four that others point to as proof that Baden made poor judgments while acting as ME. What is his defense, in general, for the accusations?

9. Discuss the symptoms of strychnine.

10. Explain how the body of Theresa Ferrara was identified and why there were different strands of hair on her torso.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the Mary Beth Tinning case, nine children died before someone thought to question the parents of the children. MEs, hospital staff, neighbors, friends, social services, and others all had the same information, but refused to question the situation.

Part 1.) Explain the circumstances that allowed this tragedy to unfold.

Part 2.) Discuss the SIDS diagnosis, in terms of why it is seldom questioned.

Part 3.) Write a brief opinion statement, noting whether you believe the system is partially responsible for these deaths, and why.

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 3, Baden discusses the concept that the death of a person is indicative of the life that person led. After reading the book, and seeing Baden's examples, do you think Baden is correct? Why or why not? Do you think the lives of certain individuals lead to their demise? Why? Does this mean we can, to some extent, control our own fate? Why or why not? Does this necessarily mean some deserve their death? Why or why not? Be sure to use examples given by Baden in the book, as either support for your position or as reasons to disprove his theory. Incorporate your own examples, as well, to support your view.

Essay Topic 3

The novel discusses three clear methods to detect time of death, those of rigor mortis, livor mortis, and algor mortis.

Part 1) List each method, and discuss, in detail, how that method helps determine the time of death.

Part 2) Compare and contrast the three methods. How are they the same? How are they different?

Part 3) Which is the best method of detection? Why? What are the limitations of this method?

(see the answer keys)

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