Toxicology: 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 · Toxicology

Sample item

A man ingests tablets sold as a grain preservative. His breath smells of garlic or rotting fish, and he develops refractory hypotension and cardiac failure. Which poison is likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Aluminium phosphide

Aluminium phosphide releases phosphine gas on contact with moisture and gastric acid. Phosphine inhibits mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase and causes profound cardiotoxicity, refractory shock and a characteristic odour.

Option by option

  • A. Organophosphate insecticide

    Organophosphate poisoning mainly causes cholinergic features such as miosis and salivation.

  • B. Paraquat

    Paraquat causes oral ulceration and progressive pulmonary fibrosis.

  • C. Aluminium phosphide (correct)

    Phosphine liberation explains the odour and early cardiogenic shock.

  • D. Copper sulphate

    Copper sulphate causes vomiting of blue-green material and haemolysis.

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 C, Aluminium phosphide. Aluminium phosphide releases phosphine gas on contact with moisture and gastric acid.

Why is "Organophosphate insecticide" not the answer?

Organophosphate poisoning mainly causes cholinergic features such as miosis and salivation.

Why is "Paraquat" not the answer?

Paraquat causes oral ulceration and progressive pulmonary fibrosis.

Why is "Copper sulphate" not the answer?

Copper sulphate causes vomiting of blue-green material and haemolysis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology in Forensic Medicine. Phosphine inhibits mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase and causes profound cardiotoxicity, refractory shock and a characteristic odour.

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 Toxicology?

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.