Medical law: grievous hurt: 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: grievous hurt

Sample item

In an assault, which of the following injuries is classified as grievous hurt under the Indian criminal law (IPC 320 or the corresponding BNS provision)?

AA bruise on the arm causing pain for 10 daysBFracture of a toothCA lip cut with 4 sutures that healed in 14 daysDA scalp abrasion treated as an outpatient

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Fracture of a tooth

The law lists eight kinds of grievous hurt: emasculation, permanent loss of sight of either eye, permanent loss of hearing of either ear, loss of any member or joint, destruction or permanent impairing of the powers of a member or joint, permanent disfigurement of the head or face, fracture or dislocation of a bone or tooth, and any hurt that endangers life or causes severe bodily pain or inability to follow ordinary pursuits for 20 days. A fractured tooth therefore qualifies regardless of how quickly the person recovers.

Option by option

A. A bruise on the arm causing pain for 10 days
Pain lasting 10 days is below the 20-day threshold and is simple hurt.
B. Fracture of a tooth (correct)
Correct. Fracture or dislocation of a bone or tooth is listed as grievous hurt.
C. A lip cut with 4 sutures that healed in 14 days
A minor lip cut healing in 14 days with no listed feature is simple hurt.
D. A scalp abrasion treated as an outpatient
A superficial abrasion treated as an outpatient is simple hurt.

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 B, Fracture of a tooth. The law lists eight kinds of grievous hurt: emasculation, permanent loss of sight of either eye, permanent loss of hearing of either ear, loss of any member or joint, destruction or permanent impairing of the powers of a member or joint, permanent disfigurement of the head or face, fracture or dislocation of a bone or tooth, and any hurt that endangers life or causes severe bodily pain or inability to follow ordinary pursuits for 20 days.

Why is "A bruise on the arm causing pain for 10 days" not the answer?

Pain lasting 10 days is below the 20-day threshold and is simple hurt.

Why is "A lip cut with 4 sutures that healed in 14 days" not the answer?

A minor lip cut healing in 14 days with no listed feature is simple hurt.

Why is "A scalp abrasion treated as an outpatient" not the answer?

A superficial abrasion treated as an outpatient is simple hurt.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Medical law: grievous hurt in Forensic Medicine. A fractured tooth therefore qualifies regardless of how quickly the person recovers.

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 Medical law: grievous hurt?

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.