Medical law: scope of consent: 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: scope of consent

Sample item

A 44-year-old woman consents to a diagnostic laparoscopy for infertility. Under anaesthesia the surgeon finds fibroids and performs a hysterectomy, with no life-threatening emergency. What was the appropriate course?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Complete the diagnostic procedure, let the patient recover and obtain fresh consent for any further surgery

Consent is specific to the procedure explained. An extension is justified only to save life or prevent grave harm that cannot wait, as recognised by the Supreme Court of India in Samira Kohli v Prabha Manchanda. A non-urgent additional surgery requires fresh informed consent from the patient once she can decide.

Option by option

  • A. Complete the diagnostic procedure, let the patient recover and obtain fresh consent for any further surgery (correct)

    Correct. A non-urgent extension needs fresh consent from the patient herself.

  • B. Proceed, because consent for laparoscopy implies consent for any gynaecological operation

    Consent to one procedure does not cover another, major procedure.

  • C. Proceed after informing a relative while the patient is still anaesthetised

    A relative cannot consent for a competent adult who will be able to decide shortly.

  • D. Proceed, because a surgeon may extend any surgery during anaesthesia

    Extension without consent is justified only in a true emergency.

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 A, Complete the diagnostic procedure, let the patient recover and obtain fresh consent for any further surgery. Consent is specific to the procedure explained.

Why is "Proceed, because consent for laparoscopy implies consent for any gyna…" not the answer?

Consent to one procedure does not cover another, major procedure.

Why is "Proceed after informing a relative while the patient is still anaesth…" not the answer?

A relative cannot consent for a competent adult who will be able to decide shortly.

Why is "Proceed, because a surgeon may extend any surgery during anaesthesia" not the answer?

Extension without consent is justified only in a true emergency.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Medical law: scope of consent in Forensic Medicine. An extension is justified only to save life or prevent grave harm that cannot wait, as recognised by the Supreme Court of India in Samira Kohli v Prabha Manchanda. A non-urgent additional surgery requires fresh informed consent from the patient once she can decide.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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: scope of consent?

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.