Sexual offences and forensic psychiatry: aggravated POCSO offence: 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 · Sexual offences and forensic psychiatry: aggravated POCSO offence

Sample item

A ward attendant penetrates a 10-year-old girl admitted to a paediatric ward. Under the POCSO Act 2012, how is the offence categorised?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Aggravated penetrative sexual assault

Penetrative sexual assault becomes aggravated in defined circumstances, including when committed by hospital staff on a child in the hospital, or on a child below 12 years. Both apply here, so a stiffer minimum sentence follows.

Option by option

  • A. Aggravated penetrative sexual assault (correct)

    Correct. Hospital staff assaulting a child patient, and a child below 12, make the offence aggravated.

  • B. Sexual harassment of a child

    Sexual harassment of a child covers words, gestures or exhibition, not penetration.

  • C. Sexual assault without penetration

    Penetration occurred, so the lesser non-penetrative category does not fit.

  • D. Use of a child for pornographic purposes

    Pornographic use needs the child to be used in material for sexual gratification, which is not described.

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 A, Aggravated penetrative sexual assault. Penetrative sexual assault becomes aggravated in defined circumstances, including when committed by hospital staff on a child in the hospital, or on a child below 12 years.

Why is "Sexual harassment of a child" not the answer?

Sexual harassment of a child covers words, gestures or exhibition, not penetration.

Why is "Sexual assault without penetration" not the answer?

Penetration occurred, so the lesser non-penetrative category does not fit.

Why is "Use of a child for pornographic purposes" not the answer?

Pornographic use needs the child to be used in material for sexual gratification, which is not described.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Sexual offences and forensic psychiatry: aggravated POCSO offence in Forensic Medicine. Both apply here, so a stiffer minimum sentence follows.

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 Sexual offences and forensic psychiatry: aggravated POCSO offence?

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.