Death investigation: 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.

Try it

Forensic Medicine · Death investigation

Sample item

Why is a body temperature estimate alone insufficient to determine the exact time of death?

APostmortem cooling does not begin until rigor resolvesBTemperature rises at a fixed rate after deathCCooling is altered by clothing, body size, environment, and illnessDAll bodies reach room temperature within one hour

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Cooling is altered by clothing, body size, environment, and illness

Postmortem cooling is influenced by many individual and environmental factors, so it provides only an estimate that must be combined with other findings.

Option by option

A. Postmortem cooling does not begin until rigor resolves
Cooling begins independently of rigor mortis resolution.
B. Temperature rises at a fixed rate after death
Cooling rate is not fixed across circumstances.
C. Cooling is altered by clothing, body size, environment, and illness (correct)
Correct: multiple variables make algor mortis an imprecise clock.
D. All bodies reach room temperature within one hour
Time to ambient temperature varies substantially.

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, Cooling is altered by clothing, body size, environment, and illness. Postmortem cooling is influenced by many individual and environmental factors, so it provides only an estimate that must be combined with other findings.

Why is "Postmortem cooling does not begin until rigor resolves" not the answer?

Cooling begins independently of rigor mortis resolution.

Why is "Temperature rises at a fixed rate after death" not the answer?

Cooling rate is not fixed across circumstances.

Why is "All bodies reach room temperature within one hour" not the answer?

Time to ambient temperature varies substantially.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Death investigation in Forensic Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: multiple variables make algor mortis an imprecise clock.

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 Death investigation?

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.