Asphyxial deaths: partial hanging: 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: partial hanging

Sample item

A young woman is found dead kneeling by a door with a dupatta tied to the handle and around her neck, her knees and toes touching the floor. This is best classified as:

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Partial (incomplete) hanging

In complete hanging the feet are off the ground and the whole body weight acts on the ligature. In partial hanging some body parts touch the ground, so only part of the weight is applied, yet death occurs because about 2 to 5 kg suffices to occlude neck vessels. Partial hanging is common in suicide and may be seen in kneeling, sitting and lying positions.

Option by option

  • A. Complete hanging

    Complete hanging requires the whole body to be off the ground.

  • B. Typical hanging

    Typical hanging refers to a knot at the nape with the point of suspension at the back, not to the support of the body.

  • C. Judicial hanging

    Judicial hanging is carried out as capital punishment with a long drop.

  • D. Partial (incomplete) hanging (correct)

    Correct. The body is partly supported by the floor.

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, Partial (incomplete) hanging. In complete hanging the feet are off the ground and the whole body weight acts on the ligature.

Why is "Complete hanging" not the answer?

Complete hanging requires the whole body to be off the ground.

Why is "Typical hanging" not the answer?

Typical hanging refers to a knot at the nape with the point of suspension at the back, not to the support of the body.

Why is "Judicial hanging" not the answer?

Judicial hanging is carried out as capital punishment with a long drop.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Asphyxial deaths: partial hanging in Forensic Medicine. In partial hanging some body parts touch the ground, so only part of the weight is applied, yet death occurs because about 2 to 5 kg suffices to occlude neck vessels. Partial hanging is common in suicide and may be seen in kneeling, sitting and lying positions.

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: partial hanging?

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.