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 the context of a victim from a "Russian roulette" incident with a contact range wound, the manner of death is most accurately categorized as suicide. This is because the very nature of "Russian roulette" implies an intentional act by the individual to engage in a dangerous behavior that could lead to self-inflicted harm or death. When assessing the manner of death in such situations, the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the individual’s intent, are pivotal. While some may argue about the influences or psychological states at play, the act of voluntarily participating in a game where one is aware of the lethal risks aligns with the definition of suicide. Other classifications such as homicide or natural would not fit, as there is no external agent causing the death (as in homicide), nor is there a pre-existing medical condition that would lead to death (as seen in natural causes). The reliance on personal philosophy of the certifier does not address the objective facts associated with the incident, which is why that option would not provide a clear or definitive manner of death categorization.