Asphyxia: autoerotic death: 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 · Asphyxia: autoerotic death

Sample item

A 24-year-old man is found hanging in a locked room, with a towel padding the ligature, and erotic material nearby. There is no note and no signs of a struggle. What is the most likely manner of death?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Accidental death during autoerotic asphyxia

Autoerotic asphyxia is a paraphilia where partial hypoxia is sought to increase arousal. Features include padded ligatures, a self-rescue mechanism, privacy, erotic material and no note. Death results when the person loses consciousness and the mechanism fails, so the manner is accidental.

Option by option

  • A. Judicial hanging

    Judicial hanging is carried out as a legal sentence.

  • B. Suicide

    Suicide is not supported by padding, absence of a note, and the setting.

  • C. Homicide by hanging

    There is no evidence of a struggle or third-party involvement.

  • D. Accidental death during autoerotic asphyxia (correct)

    Correct. Padding and erotic material point to an accident during autoerotic practice.

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.

More Forensic Medicine questions

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Accidental death during autoerotic asphyxia. Autoerotic asphyxia is a paraphilia where partial hypoxia is sought to increase arousal.

Why is "Judicial hanging" not the answer?

Judicial hanging is carried out as a legal sentence.

Why is "Suicide" not the answer?

Suicide is not supported by padding, absence of a note, and the setting.

Why is "Homicide by hanging" not the answer?

There is no evidence of a struggle or third-party involvement.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Asphyxia: autoerotic death in Forensic Medicine. Features include padded ligatures, a self-rescue mechanism, privacy, erotic material and no note. Death results when the person loses consciousness and the mechanism fails, so the manner is 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 Asphyxia: autoerotic death?

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.