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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 Baden find when he examines the body of Gail Morris?

2. Which organ is particularly important for detecting poison?

3. What does Baden claim in the cause of failure for the ME system?

4. What misled the doctors the day of Sunny's third hospitalization?

5. What does Baden claim was the cause of death for Whitney Young?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the disparity between Dr. Lee's issued cause of death and Baden's issued cause of death for Dr. Brown.

2. Describe how the development of maggots helped determine time of death in the case of Gail Morris.

3. Explain what actually happened to Daphne Mellon.

4. Explain the situation that causes some teenagers and adults to accidentally commit suicide by hanging during sexual experimentation.

5. How did Baden know Paul Fried had not committed suicide?

6. How did Baden know the killer in the Buffalo slayings was trained, either as a hunter or medically?

7. Explain the circumstances surrounding the finding of Daphne Mellon's vehicle, personal items, and body, and why those findings led to questions.

8. Explain how Carl Cappolino killed William E. Farber.

9. Explain the three themes of Baden's affidavit in the case of Claus von Bulow.

10. Explain Ondine's syndrome.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 1 of the book, Baden discusses the concept of celebrity death, and the effect of a flawed autopsy on the perception of foul play surrounding the death. Do you think conspiracy theories are derived from the life of the celebrity, or the circumstances surrounding their death, or both? Why? What aspects of life or death help frame a conspiracy theory following death? Why do some celebrities suffer such beliefs after their death and some do not? Based on this, do you think forensic science can have an effect on these ideas? Why or why not? What does this say about forensic science?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

The novel discusses additional methods to deteremine time of death, those of the potassium eye test and the use of the digestive system.

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

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

Part 3) Compare these methods with rigor mortis, livor mortis, and algor mortis. Why are these methods sometimes needed? What benefit do these methods have that the others do not? Be sure to explain your answer using examples from the book.

(see the answer keys)

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