Medical jurisprudence: stillbirth and viability: 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 jurisprudence: stillbirth and viability

Sample item

A fetus of about 24 weeks gestation is delivered dead. How is this classified under Indian law on registration of births and deaths?

AAbortion or miscarriage, as the legal limit for stillbirth is 28 weeksBStillbirth, as any dead delivery after 20 weeks qualifiesCLive birth, since the fetus once had a heartbeatDConcealment of birth, which depends on the mother's intent

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Abortion or miscarriage, as the legal limit for stillbirth is 28 weeks

In India a stillbirth is a fetus born dead after 28 weeks (210 days) of pregnancy, the legal age of viability. A fetus born dead before that is an abortion or miscarriage and is not entered in the birth and death register as a stillbirth.

Option by option

A. Abortion or miscarriage, as the legal limit for stillbirth is 28 weeks (correct)
Correct. Before 28 weeks a dead fetus is classified as abortion.
B. Stillbirth, as any dead delivery after 20 weeks qualifies
The legal limit is 28 weeks, not 20 weeks.
C. Live birth, since the fetus once had a heartbeat
Live birth needs signs of life after complete expulsion, which are absent.
D. Concealment of birth, which depends on the mother's intent
Concealment of birth is an offence concerning the disposal of a body, not a classification.

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, Abortion or miscarriage, as the legal limit for stillbirth is 28 weeks. In India a stillbirth is a fetus born dead after 28 weeks (210 days) of pregnancy, the legal age of viability.

Why is "Stillbirth, as any dead delivery after 20 weeks qualifies" not the answer?

The legal limit is 28 weeks, not 20 weeks.

Why is "Live birth, since the fetus once had a heartbeat" not the answer?

Live birth needs signs of life after complete expulsion, which are absent.

Why is "Concealment of birth, which depends on the mother's intent" not the answer?

Concealment of birth is an offence concerning the disposal of a body, not a classification.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Medical jurisprudence: stillbirth and viability in Forensic Medicine. A fetus born dead before that is an abortion or miscarriage and is not entered in the birth and death register as a stillbirth.

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 Medical jurisprudence: stillbirth and viability?

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.