Medical law and ethics: Declaration of Malta: 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 · Medical law and ethics: Declaration of Malta

Sample item

A prisoner on hunger strike is competent and has clearly refused all food. A doctor is asked by the jail authorities to force-feed him. What does medical ethics require?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Respect the informed refusal, continue to counsel and monitor, and do not force-feed

The Declaration of Malta states that forced feeding of a competent hunger striker is unethical. The doctor should ensure the refusal is voluntary and informed, keep counselling and treating him, and remain independent of the authorities.

Option by option

  • A. Withdraw from his care entirely

    Abandoning the patient breaches the duty to care.

  • B. Respect the informed refusal, continue to counsel and monitor, and do not force-feed (correct)

    Correct. The Declaration of Malta prohibits force-feeding a competent hunger striker.

  • C. Sign a certificate that he is mentally incompetent

    Falsely certifying incompetence would be professional misconduct.

  • D. Force-feed under restraint to preserve life

    Force-feeding against a competent refusal is inhumane and contrary to the declaration.

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, Respect the informed refusal, continue to counsel and monitor, and do not force-feed. The Declaration of Malta states that forced feeding of a competent hunger striker is unethical.

Why is "Withdraw from his care entirely" not the answer?

Abandoning the patient breaches the duty to care.

Why is "Sign a certificate that he is mentally incompetent" not the answer?

Falsely certifying incompetence would be professional misconduct.

Why is "Force-feed under restraint to preserve life" not the answer?

Force-feeding against a competent refusal is inhumane and contrary to the declaration.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Medical law and ethics: Declaration of Malta in Forensic Medicine. The doctor should ensure the refusal is voluntary and informed, keep counselling and treating him, and remain independent of the authorities.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Medical law and ethics: Declaration of Malta?

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.