Asphyxial deaths: soft ligature: 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 · Asphyxial deaths: soft ligature

Sample item

A man is found hanging from a ceiling fan by a broad folded cotton towel. The neck shows only a faint, pale, broad mark. What is the most appropriate inference?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. A soft, broad ligature may leave little or no mark, so hanging is not excluded

A soft, broad ligature such as a towel, sari or cloth distributes pressure and may leave only a faint or even no mark, especially if the body is cut down quickly. The diagnosis then depends on scene and internal neck findings. The absence of a mark never excludes hanging.

Option by option

  • A. Soft ligatures only cause death by poisoning

    Ligature type has no relation to poisoning.

  • B. A soft, broad ligature may leave little or no mark, so hanging is not excluded (correct)

    Correct. The nature of the ligature affects how visible the mark is.

  • C. No mark means that death was not due to hanging

    The absence of a mark does not rule out hanging with a soft ligature.

  • D. A faint mark proves hanging after death

    Mark intensity does not indicate hanging after death.

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.

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Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is B, A soft, broad ligature may leave little or no mark, so hanging is not excluded. A soft, broad ligature such as a towel, sari or cloth distributes pressure and may leave only a faint or even no mark, especially if the body is cut down quickly.

Why is "Soft ligatures only cause death by poisoning" not the answer?

Ligature type has no relation to poisoning.

Why is "No mark means that death was not due to hanging" not the answer?

The absence of a mark does not rule out hanging with a soft ligature.

Why is "A faint mark proves hanging after death" not the answer?

Mark intensity does not indicate hanging after death.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Asphyxial deaths: soft ligature in Forensic Medicine. The diagnosis then depends on scene and internal neck findings. The absence of a mark never excludes hanging.

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 Asphyxial deaths: soft ligature?

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.