Asphyxial deaths: autoerotic asphyxia: 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 · Asphyxial deaths: autoerotic asphyxia

Sample item

A 24-year-old man is found dead in a locked room, partially suspended by a padded ligature with a towel under the knot. Pornographic material and a mirror are nearby. The manner of death is most commonly:

ANaturalBAccidental, from autoerotic asphyxiaCSuicidalDHomicidal

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Accidental, from autoerotic asphyxia

Autoerotic asphyxia occurs mainly in young males who restrict breathing to increase sexual arousal, usually by hanging with a padded ligature and an escape mechanism that fails. Scene features include solitary location, locked room, fetish items, mirror and padding. The manner is usually accidental.

Option by option

A. Natural
The cause is asphyxial, not natural disease.
B. Accidental, from autoerotic asphyxia (correct)
Correct. The scene indicates a sexual practice that went wrong.
C. Suicidal
Suicide is unlikely since there is no intent and padding shows safety effort.
D. Homicidal
Homicide is not suggested by a locked room and padding.

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, Accidental, from autoerotic asphyxia. Autoerotic asphyxia occurs mainly in young males who restrict breathing to increase sexual arousal, usually by hanging with a padded ligature and an escape mechanism that fails.

Why is "Natural" not the answer?

The cause is asphyxial, not natural disease.

Why is "Suicidal" not the answer?

Suicide is unlikely since there is no intent and padding shows safety effort.

Why is "Homicidal" not the answer?

Homicide is not suggested by a locked room and padding.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Asphyxial deaths: autoerotic asphyxia in Forensic Medicine. Scene features include solitary location, locked room, fetish items, mirror and padding. The manner is usually accidental.

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 Asphyxial deaths: autoerotic asphyxia?

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.