Mental health law: suicide: practice question

A Psychiatry 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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Psychiatry · Mental health law: suicide

Sample item

Under India's Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, how is a person who attempts suicide to be regarded?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Presumed to be suffering from severe stress and not liable to punishment, with a duty on the government to provide care

Section 115 of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 states that a person who attempts suicide is presumed, unless proved otherwise, to be suffering from severe stress and is not to be tried or punished. The government must provide care, treatment and rehabilitation to reduce the risk of recurrence. The Act also provides for advance directives, nominated representatives and the right to access mental healthcare.

Option by option

  • A. Required to be detained in a prison hospital

    Prison hospital detention is not provided for.

  • B. Liable to fine only

    No fine is applicable under the Act.

  • C. Presumed to be suffering from severe stress and not liable to punishment, with a duty on the government to provide care (correct)

    Correct. The Act treats attempted suicide as a health matter, not a crime.

  • D. A criminal liable to imprisonment

    The earlier criminal provision has been effectively decriminalised.

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 Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is C, Presumed to be suffering from severe stress and not liable to punishment, with a duty on the government to provide care. Section 115 of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 states that a person who attempts suicide is presumed, unless proved otherwise, to be suffering from severe stress and is not to be tried or punished.

Why is "Required to be detained in a prison hospital" not the answer?

Prison hospital detention is not provided for.

Why is "Liable to fine only" not the answer?

No fine is applicable under the Act.

Why is "A criminal liable to imprisonment" not the answer?

The earlier criminal provision has been effectively decriminalised.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Mental health law: suicide in Psychiatry. The government must provide care, treatment and rehabilitation to reduce the risk of recurrence. The Act also provides for advance directives, nominated representatives and the right to access mental healthcare.

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 Mental health law: suicide?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry 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.