American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Practice Exam

Who may copies of a decedent's medical records be released to?

1. Defense attorneys

2. Rescue squad members

3. Insurance investigators

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: None of the above

Medical records are sensitive documents that contain personal health information governed by strict legal regulations, primarily under laws such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). The disclosure of a decedent's medical records is typically limited to certain individuals or entities such as immediate family members, personal representatives, or in specific circumstances, law enforcement agencies as part of an investigation. In this context, none of the options listed provides a legitimate basis for the release of copies of a decedent's medical records. Defense attorneys, rescue squad members, and insurance investigators do not have unconditional rights to access this information without proper authorization or legal requirements. Therefore, the appropriate answer indicates that none of the provided options accurately represent parties entitled to obtain the decedent's medical records.