Medical law: false medical certificate: 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: false medical certificate

Sample item

A friend of a doctor asks for a sickness certificate with backdated rest days although he was never examined. What is the correct position?

AIt is acceptable if the certificate is for a few days onlyBIt is acceptable if the doctor does not charge a feeCIt is permissible if the friend promises not to use it in courtDIssuing a false certificate is a punishable offence and professional misconduct

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Issuing a false certificate is a punishable offence and professional misconduct

A doctor must issue certificates only after personal examination and must state only what is true. Knowingly issuing a false certificate is punishable under the criminal law (IPC 197, now BNS 236) and is professional misconduct under the NMC ethics regulations.

Option by option

A. It is acceptable if the certificate is for a few days only
The length of rest does not alter the falsity of the certificate.
B. It is acceptable if the doctor does not charge a fee
Absence of a fee does not remove the offence.
C. It is permissible if the friend promises not to use it in court
Promise not to use it in court does not cure a false statement.
D. Issuing a false certificate is a punishable offence and professional misconduct (correct)
Correct. Both criminal liability and disciplinary action may follow.

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, Issuing a false certificate is a punishable offence and professional misconduct. A doctor must issue certificates only after personal examination and must state only what is true.

Why is "It is acceptable if the certificate is for a few days only" not the answer?

The length of rest does not alter the falsity of the certificate.

Why is "It is acceptable if the doctor does not charge a fee" not the answer?

Absence of a fee does not remove the offence.

Why is "It is permissible if the friend promises not to use it in court" not the answer?

Promise not to use it in court does not cure a false statement.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Medical law: false medical certificate in Forensic Medicine. Knowingly issuing a false certificate is punishable under the criminal law (IPC 197, now BNS 236) and is professional misconduct under the NMC ethics regulations.

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: false medical certificate?

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.