Sexual offences and forensic psychiatry: child witness: 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 · Sexual offences and forensic psychiatry: child witness

Sample item

A 7-year-old girl is the only eyewitness to an assault. Under Indian law, can she testify?

AYes, if the court finds that she understands questions and gives rational answersBNo, a witness must be over 12 yearsCOnly if the accused consentsDOnly if a psychiatrist certifies her capacity

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Yes, if the court finds that she understands questions and gives rational answers

Any person is competent to testify unless the court considers that, because of tender age, extreme old age, disease or similar cause, they cannot understand the questions or give rational answers. A child who passes this preliminary test may testify, and the court weighs the evidence with caution.

Option by option

A. Yes, if the court finds that she understands questions and gives rational answers (correct)
Correct. Competence depends on understanding the questions and giving rational answers, not on a fixed age.
B. No, a witness must be over 12 years
There is no minimum age of 12 for witnesses.
C. Only if the accused consents
The accused's consent plays no part in witness competence.
D. Only if a psychiatrist certifies her capacity
A psychiatrist's certificate is not a requirement.

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.

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Yes, if the court finds that she understands questions and gives rational answers. Any person is competent to testify unless the court considers that, because of tender age, extreme old age, disease or similar cause, they cannot understand the questions or give rational answers.

Why is "No, a witness must be over 12 years" not the answer?

There is no minimum age of 12 for witnesses.

Why is "Only if the accused consents" not the answer?

The accused's consent plays no part in witness competence.

Why is "Only if a psychiatrist certifies her capacity" not the answer?

A psychiatrist's certificate is not a requirement.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Sexual offences and forensic psychiatry: child witness in Forensic Medicine. A child who passes this preliminary test may testify, and the court weighs the evidence with caution.

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 Sexual offences and forensic psychiatry: child witness?

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.