Thanatology: persistent vegetative state: 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: persistent vegetative state

Sample item

Three months after a cardiac arrest, a patient lies with eyes open, shows sleep-wake cycles, breathes spontaneously and grimaces to pain, but shows no awareness of self or surroundings. Which description fits best?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Persistent vegetative state

In a vegetative state the brain stem works, so there are sleep-wake cycles and spontaneous breathing, but cortical function is lost and there is no awareness. Brain stem death means irreversible loss of all brain stem function, including breathing, and the patient is legally dead.

Option by option

  • A. Locked-in syndrome

    Locked-in patients are fully aware and communicate by eye movements.

  • B. Persistent vegetative state (correct)

    Correct. Preserved brain stem activity with absent awareness defines the vegetative state.

  • C. Coma

    A coma has no sleep-wake cycles and the eyes stay closed.

  • D. Brain stem death

    Brain stem death needs absent brain stem reflexes and apnoea; this patient breathes on his own.

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 B, Persistent vegetative state. In a vegetative state the brain stem works, so there are sleep-wake cycles and spontaneous breathing, but cortical function is lost and there is no awareness.

Why is "Locked-in syndrome" not the answer?

Locked-in patients are fully aware and communicate by eye movements.

Why is "Coma" not the answer?

A coma has no sleep-wake cycles and the eyes stay closed.

Why is "Brain stem death" not the answer?

Brain stem death needs absent brain stem reflexes and apnoea; this patient breathes on his own.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thanatology: persistent vegetative state in Forensic Medicine. Brain stem death means irreversible loss of all brain stem function, including breathing, and the patient is legally dead.

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: persistent vegetative state?

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.