Manner of death: 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 · Manner of death

Sample item

A death results from an unintentional fall from a ladder with no evidence of assault or self-harm. What manner of death is most appropriate?

ANaturalBAccidentCHomicideDSuicide

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Accident

Manner of death classifies the circumstances as natural, accident, suicide, homicide, or undetermined. An unintentional injury is classified as an accident.

Option by option

A. Natural
Natural death is due solely to disease.
B. Accident (correct)
Correct. The fatal injury was unintended.
C. Homicide
Homicide requires actions of another person causing death.
D. Suicide
Suicide requires evidence of intentional self-inflicted injury.

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, Accident. Manner of death classifies the circumstances as natural, accident, suicide, homicide, or undetermined.

Why is "Natural" not the answer?

Natural death is due solely to disease.

Why is "Homicide" not the answer?

Homicide requires actions of another person causing death.

Why is "Suicide" not the answer?

Suicide requires evidence of intentional self-inflicted injury.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Manner of death in Forensic Medicine. An unintentional injury is classified as an accident.

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 Manner of death?

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.