American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Practice Exam

In the scenario of a victim from a "Russian roulette" incident with a contact range wound, categorizing the manner of death as suicide is appropriate based on the circumstances surrounding the act. "Russian roulette" involves a person knowingly participating in an activity that has a high probability of causing fatal harm, as it typically entails using a firearm with the understanding that it may discharge when the trigger is pulled. This intentional choice to expose oneself to a risk of death aligns with the definition of suicide, as the individual is willingly engaging in an act that can lead to their own demise.

In determining manner of death, one considers intent, circumstances, and the actions leading to the death. The individual participating in "Russian roulette" demonstrates a clear intention to engage in a life-threatening gamble, which underscores the classification of the manner of death as suicide. This differentiates it from homicide, which involves the intent of one person to kill another. In this case, no external actor is responsible for the death, as the act is self-inflicted. Additionally, classifying the death as natural would be inaccurate, since it does not arise from natural causes but rather from voluntary risky behavior. The personal philosophy of the certifier, while it may play a role in some cases,