American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Practice Exam

What typical condition follows body exposure to water that suggests drowning?

1. Presence of bruising on limbs

2. Water in the lungs

3. Fractured ribs

4. Skin slippage

The correct answer is: Water in the lungs

The presence of water in the lungs serves as a critical indicator in cases of drowning. When an individual drowns, they typically inhale water, leading to the influx of water into the lungs, which would be detected during a medicolegal investigation. This finding is significant because it confirms that the individual was submerged in water and that inhalation of the liquid occurred prior to death. In contrast, the other options listed do not specifically indicate drowning. Bruising on limbs can occur due to various forms of trauma and is not exclusive to drowning. Fractured ribs might suggest a violent incident, but they can also arise from resuscitation attempts or other unrelated causes. Skin slippage, while a postmortem change that may occur after exposure to moisture, is not a definitive sign of drowning and can be seen in other circumstances following death. Thus, the presence of water in the lungs is the most reliable indicator suggesting drowning as the cause of death.