Sexual offences and forensic psychiatry: absent genital injury: 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.

Try it

Forensic Medicine · Sexual offences and forensic psychiatry: absent genital injury

Sample item

A 6-year-old girl reports sexual assault five days earlier. The genital examination is normal. How should this finding be interpreted?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. A normal examination is common and does not exclude sexual abuse

Most children examined after sexual abuse have normal or non-specific genital findings, since the tissues heal rapidly and many acts do not cause injury. The history from the child is the main evidence. A normal examination should not be used to discredit the account.

Option by option

  • A. It proves that no contact occurred

    Contact can occur without leaving physical findings.

  • B. A normal examination is common and does not exclude sexual abuse (correct)

    Correct. A normal examination does not rule out abuse.

  • C. It proves the child is lying

    A normal examination says nothing about the child's honesty.

  • D. It excludes penetration

    Penetration need not leave a lasting injury, so a normal examination cannot exclude it.

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 B, A normal examination is common and does not exclude sexual abuse. Most children examined after sexual abuse have normal or non-specific genital findings, since the tissues heal rapidly and many acts do not cause injury.

Why is "It proves that no contact occurred" not the answer?

Contact can occur without leaving physical findings.

Why is "It proves the child is lying" not the answer?

A normal examination says nothing about the child's honesty.

Why is "It excludes penetration" not the answer?

Penetration need not leave a lasting injury, so a normal examination cannot exclude it.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Sexual offences and forensic psychiatry: absent genital injury in Forensic Medicine. The history from the child is the main evidence. A normal examination should not be used to discredit the account.

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: absent genital injury?

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.