Medical negligence: 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 · Medical negligence

Sample item

What standard is used when assessing clinical negligence?

ANo written recordBReasonable competent practiceCPatient preference aloneDPerfect outcome every time

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Reasonable competent practice

Negligence assessment considers whether care fell below the standard expected of a reasonably competent practitioner and whether that breach caused harm.

Option by option

A. No written record
Records are important evidence, not an absence requirement.
B. Reasonable competent practice (correct)
Correct: reasonable competent practice is the usual professional standard.
C. Patient preference alone
Patient preference matters but does not alone define professional standard.
D. Perfect outcome every time
Medicine cannot guarantee perfect outcomes.

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 B, Reasonable competent practice. Negligence assessment considers whether care fell below the standard expected of a reasonably competent practitioner and whether that breach caused harm.

Why is "No written record" not the answer?

Records are important evidence, not an absence requirement.

Why is "Patient preference alone" not the answer?

Patient preference matters but does not alone define professional standard.

Why is "Perfect outcome every time" not the answer?

Medicine cannot guarantee perfect outcomes.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Medical negligence in Forensic Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: reasonable competent practice is the usual professional standard.

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 negligence?

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.