Asphyxial deaths: garrotting: 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 · Asphyxial deaths: garrotting

Sample item

A man is attacked from behind in a lane. A cord is thrown around his neck and tightened by twisting it with a short stick. He dies of strangulation. What is this form of homicidal ligature strangulation called?

ABansdolaBGarrottingCBurkingDThrottling

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Garrotting

In garrotting, a cord or wire is thrown around the neck from behind and tightened by twisting with a stick, producing a deep horizontal ligature mark. Throttling is manual strangulation by the hands, bansdola is compression of the neck between two bamboo sticks, and burking is smothering with chest compression.

Option by option

A. Bansdola
Bansdola involves compressing the neck between bamboo sticks, with no cord twisted around it.
B. Garrotting (correct)
Correct. A ligature tightened by a twisting lever is garrotting.
C. Burking
Burking combines smothering with compression of the chest.
D. Throttling
Throttling is strangulation using the hands.

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, Garrotting. In garrotting, a cord or wire is thrown around the neck from behind and tightened by twisting with a stick, producing a deep horizontal ligature mark.

Why is "Bansdola" not the answer?

Bansdola involves compressing the neck between bamboo sticks, with no cord twisted around it.

Why is "Burking" not the answer?

Burking combines smothering with compression of the chest.

Why is "Throttling" not the answer?

Throttling is strangulation using the hands.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Asphyxial deaths: garrotting in Forensic Medicine. Throttling is manual strangulation by the hands, bansdola is compression of the neck between two bamboo sticks, and burking is smothering with chest compression.

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: garrotting?

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.