Thanatology: sudden death with a negative gross autopsy: 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 · Thanatology: sudden death with a negative gross autopsy

Sample item

A 25-year-old man dies suddenly at rest. The heart, brain and lungs look normal on gross examination. What should the pathologist do before giving the cause of death?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Retain tissues and body fluids for histology and toxicology

When the gross autopsy is negative, a cause often emerges from histology, toxicology, microbiology or genetic study of preserved tissue, blood and viscera. A cause of death is not certified until these are available, because a cardiac or other natural cause may be wrongly assumed.

Option by option

  • A. Repeat the gross dissection of the heart alone

    Repeating the same gross dissection will not reveal microscopic or chemical causes.

  • B. Close the case as natural death by exclusion

    Natural death by exclusion cannot be accepted without toxicology and histology.

  • C. Retain tissues and body fluids for histology and toxicology (correct)

    Correct. Further laboratory study is needed before a cause is stated.

  • D. Certify the death as due to heart failure

    Heart failure is a mode of dying and not a cause without evidence.

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 C, Retain tissues and body fluids for histology and toxicology. When the gross autopsy is negative, a cause often emerges from histology, toxicology, microbiology or genetic study of preserved tissue, blood and viscera.

Why is "Repeat the gross dissection of the heart alone" not the answer?

Repeating the same gross dissection will not reveal microscopic or chemical causes.

Why is "Close the case as natural death by exclusion" not the answer?

Natural death by exclusion cannot be accepted without toxicology and histology.

Why is "Certify the death as due to heart failure" not the answer?

Heart failure is a mode of dying and not a cause without evidence.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thanatology: sudden death with a negative gross autopsy in Forensic Medicine. A cause of death is not certified until these are available, because a cardiac or other natural cause may be wrongly assumed.

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 Thanatology: sudden death with a negative gross autopsy?

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.