Medical law: complaints against doctors: 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: complaints against doctors

Sample item

A patient wishes to file a complaint of professional misconduct against a doctor. Under the National Medical Commission Act 2019, where should the complaint first be made?

AThe Medical Advisory CouncilBThe Supreme CourtCThe State Medical CouncilDThe Ethics and Medical Registration Board of NMC directly

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. The State Medical Council

A complaint of professional misconduct is first heard by the State Medical Council. The doctor can appeal the decision to the Ethics and Medical Registration Board of the National Medical Commission, and then to the Commission. Negligence claims for compensation are separate and go to consumer or civil courts.

Option by option

A. The Medical Advisory Council
The Advisory Council guides policy and does not hear complaints.
B. The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is not the first forum for misconduct complaints.
C. The State Medical Council (correct)
The State Medical Council is the first forum.
D. The Ethics and Medical Registration Board of NMC directly
The Board hears appeals from the State Council decision.

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 C, The State Medical Council. A complaint of professional misconduct is first heard by the State Medical Council.

Why is "The Medical Advisory Council" not the answer?

The Advisory Council guides policy and does not hear complaints.

Why is "The Supreme Court" not the answer?

The Supreme Court is not the first forum for misconduct complaints.

Why is "The Ethics and Medical Registration Board of NMC directly" not the answer?

The Board hears appeals from the State Council decision.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Medical law: complaints against doctors in Forensic Medicine. The doctor can appeal the decision to the Ethics and Medical Registration Board of the National Medical Commission, and then to the Commission. Negligence claims for compensation are separate and go to consumer or civil courts.

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: complaints against doctors?

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.