American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Practice Exam

In the case of a victim from a "Russian roulette" incident with a contact range wound, how is the manner of death categorized?

1. Determined by the personal philosophy of the certifier

2. Homicide

3. Natural

4. Suicide

The correct answer is: Suicide

In a "Russian roulette" incident, the manner of death is categorized as suicide due to the voluntary nature of the act. In this context, the person involved willingly engages in a life-threatening game, thereby demonstrating intent to endanger their own life. Even though the outcome may not align with the typical suicide scenario—such as a clear intention to die—because the individual chooses to participate in an inherently lethal situation, it indicates personal agency and a degree of intent. The classification of death as a suicide emphasizes the importance of assessing the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the victim's state of mind and the voluntary choice to participate in a dangerous activity. The other classifications, such as homicide or natural, do not apply because there is no other person actively causing the death in a criminal manner, nor is there an underlying medical condition causing the death in this scenario. Thus, the classification as suicide reflects both the nature of the act and the intent of the individual at the time of the incident.