Medical law: Telemedicine Practice Guidelines: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Medical law: Telemedicine Practice Guidelines

Sample item

A registered doctor holds a first teleconsultation by telephone with a new adult patient and wishes to prescribe. Under the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines 2020, which category of drugs may be prescribed?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. List O, which comprises over-the-counter and common drugs such as paracetamol and ORS

List O (for example paracetamol and ORS) may be prescribed at any consultation. List A is permitted at a first consult by video, or for refills, and List B only for a follow-up of the same condition. The prohibited list, including Schedule X drugs, may not be prescribed by telemedicine.

Option by option

  • A. List O, which comprises over-the-counter and common drugs such as paracetamol and ORS (correct)

    Correct. List O drugs are allowed in any mode, including a first phone consult.

  • B. List B, which is for follow-up consultation only and is allowed at first contact

    List B is restricted to follow-up consults of an existing condition.

  • C. List A, which is available to any first consult by any mode

    List A needs a first consult by video or a refill, and a phone call is not enough.

  • D. Prohibited list drugs, if the patient gives consent

    Prohibited drugs cannot be prescribed through telemedicine whatever the consent.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Forensic Medicine questions

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is A, List O, which comprises over-the-counter and common drugs such as paracetamol and ORS. List O (for example paracetamol and ORS) may be prescribed at any consultation.

Why is "List B, which is for follow-up consultation only and is allowed at fi…" not the answer?

List B is restricted to follow-up consults of an existing condition.

Why is "List A, which is available to any first consult by any mode" not the answer?

List A needs a first consult by video or a refill, and a phone call is not enough.

Why is "Prohibited list drugs, if the patient gives consent" not the answer?

Prohibited drugs cannot be prescribed through telemedicine whatever the consent.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Medical law: Telemedicine Practice Guidelines in Forensic Medicine. List A is permitted at a first consult by video, or for refills, and List B only for a follow-up of the same condition. The prohibited list, including Schedule X drugs, may not be prescribed by telemedicine.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Medical law: Telemedicine Practice Guidelines?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.