Surgical oncology: practice question

A General Surgery 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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General Surgery · Surgical oncology

Sample item

Which principle is central to obtaining informed consent for an elective operation?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Discuss material risks, benefits, alternatives, and the option of no treatment

Valid informed consent requires that a patient with capacity receives understandable information about material risks, expected benefits, reasonable alternatives, and what may happen without treatment, with an opportunity to ask questions.

Option by option

  • A. Obtain consent after sedating the patient

    Sedation can impair capacity and is inappropriate before elective consent.

  • B. Provide only the surgeon's preferred option

    Consent should not be limited to the surgeon's preferred option.

  • C. Discuss material risks, benefits, alternatives, and the option of no treatment (correct)

    Correct: informed choice requires balanced discussion including no treatment.

  • D. Guarantee a perfect outcome

    No clinician can ethically guarantee a perfect surgical outcome.

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 General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is C, Discuss material risks, benefits, alternatives, and the option of no treatment. Valid informed consent requires that a patient with capacity receives understandable information about material risks, expected benefits, reasonable alternatives, and what may happen without treatment, with an opportunity to ask questions.

Why is "Obtain consent after sedating the patient" not the answer?

Sedation can impair capacity and is inappropriate before elective consent.

Why is "Provide only the surgeon's preferred option" not the answer?

Consent should not be limited to the surgeon's preferred option.

Why is "Guarantee a perfect outcome" not the answer?

No clinician can ethically guarantee a perfect surgical outcome.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Surgical oncology in General Surgery. The correct option holds because: Correct: informed choice requires balanced discussion including no treatment.

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 Surgical oncology?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery 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.