NEET-PG 2020 - Forensic Medicine PYQs Practice Questions

Q: Which of the following is the law on child sexual abuse in India?

Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). ***Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO)*** - The **POCSO Act** was specifically enacted in India to address and prevent child sexual abuse, providing a comprehensive legal framework for protection, prosecution, and rehabilitation. - It defines various forms of sexual offenses against children and ensures a child-friendly process for reporting and trial. *Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act* - This act primarily deals with the **care, protection, rehabilitation, and social reintegration of children** in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection. - While it ensures the overall well-being of children, it is not specifically focused on defining and prosecuting child sexual abuse. *Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 375* - **IPC Section 375 defines rape** in India, but it primarily addresses sexual assault against women and does not specifically cater to children as a vulnerable group with distinct legal protections against sexual exploitation. - The POCSO Act was introduced to provide more stringent and child-specific provisions beyond the general framework of the IPC. *Prohibition of Child Marriage Act* - This act aims to **prohibit child marriages** and makes it an offense to solemnize or facilitate such marriages. - While child marriage can sometimes involve sexual exploitation, this act is not the primary legislation for addressing child sexual abuse in general. [Practice more Forensic Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: What poison will you detect in the skeleton even after decomposition

Arsenic. ***Arsenic*** - **Arsenic** has a high affinity for **keratin-rich tissues** like hair, nails, and skin, and also gets incorporated into bones. - Its presence in the skeleton and other tissues can be detected long after death, even in cases of **emaciation** or advanced decomposition. *Lead* - **Lead** primarily accumulates in **bones** due to its chemical similarity to calcium, where it can reside for decades. - While detectable in the skeleton, arsenic is often considered in forensic toxicology when looking for poisons in highly decayed remains due to its long-term persistence in various tissues. *Mercury* - **Organic mercury** forms, like **methylmercury**, primarily accumulate in the **brain and kidneys**, and to a lesser extent in hair and nails. - While some inorganic forms can be found in bone, its persistence and detectability in the skeleton after significant decomposition are generally less prominent than arsenic. *Cadmium* - **Cadmium** preferentially accumulates in the **kidneys and liver**, with a smaller proportion stored in bones. - While it can be detected in bone, its persistence in decayed remains and diagnostic significance as a poison in the skeleton is not as universal as arsenic. [Practice more Forensic Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: In the context of civil negligence against a doctor, who bears the burden of proof?

Patient. ***Patient*** - In civil negligence cases, the **plaintiff** (the patient) always bears the **burden of proof** to demonstrate that the doctor was negligent. - The patient must establish the **four elements of negligence**: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages. - This follows the fundamental legal principle: **"He who asserts must prove"** (*onus probandi*). *Judicial first-degree magistrate* - A **Judicial First-Class Magistrate (JFCM)** is a **criminal court** officer who handles criminal cases, not civil negligence suits. - Civil negligence cases against doctors are filed in **Civil Courts**, not before magistrates. - Magistrates do not bear the burden of proof; they adjudicate based on evidence presented by parties. *Police not below the level of sub-inspector* - This refers to **criminal negligence** cases under **Section 304A IPC** (causing death by rash or negligent act), not civil negligence. - In criminal cases, police (Sub-Inspector or above) investigate and the **State bears the burden of proof**, not the individual parties. - Civil negligence is a **tort**, handled separately from criminal proceedings. *Doctor* - The **doctor** (defendant) is the party against whom the negligence claim is made. - While the doctor must present evidence to **rebut** the patient's claims, they do not bear the **initial burden of proof** in civil cases. - The burden only shifts to the doctor if the doctrine of **res ipsa loquitur** applies (rare circumstances where negligence is self-evident). [Practice more Forensic Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: Relatives of a patient told during postmortem examination that the person had a tattoo - which was now invisible. How to identify?

Examine the Lymph node. ***Examine the Lymph node*** - Tattoo ink particles are **phagocytosed** by macrophages and subsequently transported to and deposited in the regional **lymph nodes**. - Even if a tattoo is no longer visible on the skin due to decomposition or other factors, the pigment can often still be found in the associated **lymph nodes upon histological examination**. *Spectrophotometer* - A spectrophotometer is used to **measure the absorption or transmission of light** by a sample, which could identify pigments in a *prepared tissue sample*. - However, it would not be the **primary method for initial detection of an invisible tattoo** within a body as it requires a specific tissue sample containing the pigment to work, and would not help in locating the tattoo's original site or the presence of pigment in regional lymph nodes. *Ordinary light* - Ordinary light is suitable for examining **visible surface features** or visible tattoos. - If a tattoo is already described as **invisible**, ordinary light will not reveal its presence, as the pigments are either degraded, covered, or too deep to be seen. *X-ray* - X-rays are primarily used to visualize **bone or dense structures** and can detect foreign bodies that are radiopaque (like some metals). - Tattoo pigments are generally **not sufficiently radiopaque** to be visible on X-ray, making this method ineffective for detecting tattoos. [Practice more Forensic Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Question 1

Which of the following is the law on child sexual abuse in India?

Accepted Answer

Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO)

Answer

Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act

Answer

Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 375

Answer

Prohibition of Child Marriage Act

Question 2

What poison will you detect in the skeleton even after decomposition

Accepted Answer

Arsenic

Answer

Lead

Answer

Mercury

Answer

Cadmium

Question 3

Which of the following statements about the hymen in the context of child sexual abuse is correct?

Accepted Answer

The hymen is a thin membrane that can tear easily.

Answer

The hymen's location makes it less likely to tear during trauma.

Answer

The hymen's position does not affect its likelihood of tearing.

Answer

The hymen is elastic and can stretch without tearing.

Question 4

In the context of civil negligence against a doctor, who bears the burden of proof?

Accepted Answer

Patient

Answer

Judicial first-degree magistrate

Answer

Police not below the level of sub-inspector

Answer

Doctor

Question 5

Relatives of a patient told during postmortem examination that the person had a tattoo - which was now invisible. How to identify?

Accepted Answer

Examine the Lymph node

Answer

Spectrophotometer

Answer

Ordinary light

Answer

X-ray

Question 6

A body is discovered with burn marks as shown in the image, resembling a 'crocodile skin' pattern. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

High voltage electrical burns

Answer

Chemical burns

Answer

Scald burns

Answer

Radiation burns

Question 7

In the court of law, the act of a witness giving false evidence after taking an oath is punishable under:

Accepted Answer

193 IPC

Answer

191 IPC

Answer

192 IPC

Answer

197 IPC

Question 8

Magnan's symptom is seen in:

Accepted Answer

Cocaine

Answer

Datura

Answer

Cannabis

Answer

Opium

Question 9

As per POCSO act, child was brought for age estimation. Xray wrist taken. The maximum age of the wrist joint is:

Accepted Answer

13 years

Answer

7 years

Answer

10 years

Answer

4 years

Question 10

The poison commonly detected in exhumed bodies is:

Accepted Answer

Arsenic

Answer

Lead

Answer

Mercury

Answer

Cadmium

NEET-PG 2020 — Forensic Medicine