Medical law: abandonment of the patient: 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.

Try it

Forensic Medicine · Medical law: abandonment of the patient

Sample item

After operating on a patient who developed a wound infection, a surgeon leaves for a holiday without informing the patient or arranging a substitute, and the patient deteriorates. What is the professional failing?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Abandonment of the patient, a form of negligence arising from the duty to continue care until relieved

Once the doctor-patient contract is formed, the doctor must continue care until the patient recovers, is transferred, or the doctor withdraws after reasonable notice and arrangement of alternative care. Leaving a patient who needs care without such steps is abandonment and actionable negligence.

Option by option

  • A. Therapeutic privilege, since information was withheld in the patient's interest

    Therapeutic privilege concerns withholding information, not leaving the patient unattended.

  • B. Abandonment of the patient, a form of negligence arising from the duty to continue care until relieved (correct)

    Correct. Unannounced withdrawal without a substitute breaches the duty of care.

  • C. Exercise of the right to refuse practice, which is always permitted

    Withdrawal is allowed only with reasonable notice and alternative arrangements.

  • D. Contributory negligence on the part of the patient

    The patient did nothing to contribute to the harm.

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 B, Abandonment of the patient, a form of negligence arising from the duty to continue care until relieved. Once the doctor-patient contract is formed, the doctor must continue care until the patient recovers, is transferred, or the doctor withdraws after reasonable notice and arrangement of alternative care.

Why is "Therapeutic privilege, since information was withheld in the patient'…" not the answer?

Therapeutic privilege concerns withholding information, not leaving the patient unattended.

Why is "Exercise of the right to refuse practice, which is always permitted" not the answer?

Withdrawal is allowed only with reasonable notice and alternative arrangements.

Why is "Contributory negligence on the part of the patient" not the answer?

The patient did nothing to contribute to the harm.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Medical law: abandonment of the patient in Forensic Medicine. Leaving a patient who needs care without such steps is abandonment and actionable negligence.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. 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: abandonment of the patient?

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.