Thanatology: registration of deaths: 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 · Thanatology: registration of deaths

Sample item

A family realises that the death of their father 40 days ago was never registered. Under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, what is required to register it now?

ANothing beyond the usual form, because registration is allowed at any timeBAn order from a first-class Judicial Magistrate before the registrar can actCA fresh post-mortem examination to certify the cause of deathDWritten permission of the prescribed authority, an affidavit and the late fee

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Written permission of the prescribed authority, an affidavit and the late fee

A death must be reported within 21 days. Between 21 and 30 days it is registered with a late fee; after 30 days but within one year it needs written permission of the prescribed authority, an affidavit and a fee. Only after one year does registration require an order of a first-class Magistrate.

Option by option

A. Nothing beyond the usual form, because registration is allowed at any time
Delayed registration is not automatic; the later the report, the more conditions apply.
B. An order from a first-class Judicial Magistrate before the registrar can act
A Magistrate's order is needed only when more than one year has elapsed.
C. A fresh post-mortem examination to certify the cause of death
Cause of death is certified from the available medical record; no new post-mortem is required.
D. Written permission of the prescribed authority, an affidavit and the late fee (correct)
Correct. The 30-day to one-year window needs the prescribed authority's permission, an affidavit and a late fee.

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.

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Written permission of the prescribed authority, an affidavit and the late fee. A death must be reported within 21 days.

Why is "Nothing beyond the usual form, because registration is allowed at any…" not the answer?

Delayed registration is not automatic; the later the report, the more conditions apply.

Why is "An order from a first-class Judicial Magistrate before the registrar…" not the answer?

A Magistrate's order is needed only when more than one year has elapsed.

Why is "A fresh post-mortem examination to certify the cause of death" not the answer?

Cause of death is certified from the available medical record; no new post-mortem is required.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thanatology: registration of deaths in Forensic Medicine. Between 21 and 30 days it is registered with a late fee; after 30 days but within one year it needs written permission of the prescribed authority, an affidavit and a fee. Only after one year does registration require an order of a first-class Magistrate.

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 Thanatology: registration of deaths?

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.