Sexual assault examination: consent: 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 · Sexual assault examination: consent

Sample item

A conscious adult presents soon after an alleged sexual assault. They accept treatment for injuries and emergency contraception but decline genital examination and forensic swabs. What is the most appropriate response?

ARequire police attendance before any medical careBWithhold all treatment unless a full forensic examination is acceptedCRespect the refusal, provide accepted care, and document the discussion and choicesDCollect forensic swabs because evidence may otherwise be lost

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Respect the refusal, provide accepted care, and document the discussion and choices

Forensic examination and evidence collection require informed, voluntary consent and may be declined in whole or in part. The clinician should provide the care the patient accepts, explain time-sensitive options without coercion, and document the discussion accurately.

Option by option

A. Require police attendance before any medical care
Police involvement is not a prerequisite for urgent medical care.
B. Withhold all treatment unless a full forensic examination is accepted
Accepted healthcare should not be withheld because another component is declined.
C. Respect the refusal, provide accepted care, and document the discussion and choices (correct)
Correct. A patient may choose medical treatment while declining forensic procedures.
D. Collect forensic swabs because evidence may otherwise be lost
Evidence collection without consent violates autonomy and may be unlawful.

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, Respect the refusal, provide accepted care, and document the discussion and choices. Forensic examination and evidence collection require informed, voluntary consent and may be declined in whole or in part.

Why is "Require police attendance before any medical care" not the answer?

Police involvement is not a prerequisite for urgent medical care.

Why is "Withhold all treatment unless a full forensic examination is accepted" not the answer?

Accepted healthcare should not be withheld because another component is declined.

Why is "Collect forensic swabs because evidence may otherwise be lost" not the answer?

Evidence collection without consent violates autonomy and may be unlawful.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Sexual assault examination: consent in Forensic Medicine. The clinician should provide the care the patient accepts, explain time-sensitive options without coercion, and document the discussion accurately.

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 Sexual assault examination: consent?

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.