Medical law: violence against healthcare workers: 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: violence against healthcare workers

Sample item

During a declared epidemic, a mob assaults a resident doctor in a government hospital. Under the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act 2020, how is the offence treated?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Cognisable and non-bailable, with imprisonment of 3 months to 5 years and a fine

The 2020 amendment protects healthcare service personnel, making acts of violence cognisable and non-bailable, with imprisonment of three months to five years and a fine of Rs 50,000 to 2 lakh. Grievous hurt carries 6 months to 7 years and a fine of 1 to 5 lakh. Compensation for damage to property is twice the market value.

Option by option

  • A. Punishable by death

    Death is not prescribed under this Act.

  • B. Civil wrong only

    It is a criminal offence, not a civil wrong.

  • C. Cognisable and non-bailable, with imprisonment of 3 months to 5 years and a fine (correct)

    The Act makes such violence cognisable, non-bailable and punishable by up to five years.

  • D. Non-cognisable and bailable with a small fine

    It is not non-cognisable or bailable under the amendment.

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.

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Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Cognisable and non-bailable, with imprisonment of 3 months to 5 years and a fine. The 2020 amendment protects healthcare service personnel, making acts of violence cognisable and non-bailable, with imprisonment of three months to five years and a fine of Rs 50,000 to 2 lakh.

Why is "Punishable by death" not the answer?

Death is not prescribed under this Act.

Why is "Civil wrong only" not the answer?

It is a criminal offence, not a civil wrong.

Why is "Non-cognisable and bailable with a small fine" not the answer?

It is not non-cognisable or bailable under the amendment.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Medical law: violence against healthcare workers in Forensic Medicine. Grievous hurt carries 6 months to 7 years and a fine of 1 to 5 lakh. Compensation for damage to property is twice the market value.

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: violence against healthcare workers?

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.