Asphyxial deaths: overlaying: 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: overlaying

Sample item

A 3-month-old infant is found dead in the morning in the bed of the parents, one of whom had consumed alcohol the previous night. There are no injuries and the nose and mouth show slight pallor. Death from an adult lying over the infant is called:

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Overlaying, a form of accidental smothering

Overlaying is accidental suffocation of an infant when a sleeping adult rolls on to it or pressure from bedding blocks the airway; alcohol or sedation in the adult is a risk factor. Findings are often minimal, so history and scene are essential. It must be separated from sudden infant death and inflicted smothering.

Option by option

  • A. Mugging, a form of ligature strangulation

    Mugging is neck compression by an assailant's forearm from behind.

  • B. Burking, a form of homicidal strangulation

    Burking combines smothering with chest compression and is homicidal.

  • C. Bansdola, a form of homicidal compression of the neck

    Bansdola is neck compression with bamboo sticks and is homicidal.

  • D. Overlaying, a form of accidental smothering (correct)

    Correct. This is the classic accidental smothering of a co-sleeping infant.

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 Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Overlaying, a form of accidental smothering. Overlaying is accidental suffocation of an infant when a sleeping adult rolls on to it or pressure from bedding blocks the airway; alcohol or sedation in the adult is a risk factor.

Why is "Mugging, a form of ligature strangulation" not the answer?

Mugging is neck compression by an assailant's forearm from behind.

Why is "Burking, a form of homicidal strangulation" not the answer?

Burking combines smothering with chest compression and is homicidal.

Why is "Bansdola, a form of homicidal compression of the neck" not the answer?

Bansdola is neck compression with bamboo sticks and is homicidal.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Asphyxial deaths: overlaying in Forensic Medicine. Findings are often minimal, so history and scene are essential. It must be separated from sudden infant death and inflicted smothering.

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: overlaying?

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.