MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

When is it permissible to search a dead body for identification after obtaining permission from the Medical Examiner?

1. Unnatural Causes

2. Natural Causes

3. When your supervisor tells you to

4. In cases of missing persons

The correct answer is: Natural Causes

The correct context for searching a dead body for identification after obtaining permission from the Medical Examiner revolves around circumstances related to natural causes. When a person has died of natural causes, the circumstances often indicate that the body is not linked to any criminal activity, allowing law enforcement to conduct a search focused on identification without the complications that might arise in more suspicious situations. In cases of unnatural causes, such as homicide or accidents, the preservation of the scene becomes paramount, and the investigation may fall under more stringent legal standards that restrict searching the body until a thorough examination is completed to avoid tampering with evidence. While it can be necessary or appropriate to search a body in cases of missing persons, it is not universally permissible without clear guidelines that relate to the natural circumstances of death. Simply following directives from a supervisor does not automatically justify a search unless it aligns with established protocols that consider the nature of the death and the existing laws.