FMGE 2023 — Forensic Medicine
9 Previous Year Questions with Answers & Explanations
Which of the following tests cannot be used to detect blood stains?
Inquest in a case of custodial death is handled by
Identify the type of homicide caused by smothering and traumatic asphyxia.
According to the law, nothing is an offense if a person is of an unsound mind and is not able to understand that the nature and consequences of his/her act are wrong. Which rule of insanity applies in this case?
In which poisoning is cherry red hypostasis seen on post-mortem examination?
A public witness of the incident is asked to attend the court and record his evidence. Which type of evidence is provided by the witness to the court?
Post-mortem examination of a dead body reveals contraction of the hands with absent primary relaxation. What is this suggestive of?
Study of death in all aspects is known as:
Following the recovery of a skull by the police, the relatives of a missing person want to confirm his identity. Which of the following techniques can be used to figure out a person's identity using the skull and photograph of the person?
FMGE 2023 - Forensic Medicine FMGE Practice Questions and MCQs
Question 1: Which of the following tests cannot be used to detect blood stains?
- A. Spectroscopy
- B. Teichman's test
- C. Barberio's test (Correct Answer)
- D. Takayama's test
Explanation: ***Barberio's test*** - Barberio's test is used for the **detection of semen stains**, not blood stains - It is a Florence test that detects choline in seminal fluid by forming characteristic brown rhomboid or needle-shaped crystals of choline periodide - This test is specific for forensic identification of seminal stains in sexual assault cases *Incorrect - Spectroscopy* - Spectroscopy is widely used for blood detection by analyzing the absorption spectrum of hemoglobin and its derivatives - Different hemoglobin forms (oxyhemoglobin, reduced hemoglobin, methemoglobin) show characteristic absorption bands *Incorrect - Teichman's test* - Teichman's test is a confirmatory microcrystalline test for blood stains - Forms brownish rhomboid hemin crystals (hematin chloride) when blood is treated with glacial acetic acid and sodium chloride - Highly specific for blood detection in forensic medicine *Incorrect - Takayama's test* - Takayama's test is another confirmatory microcrystalline test for blood - Forms pink feathery hemochromogen crystals when blood is treated with pyridine and glucose in alkaline medium - More sensitive than Teichman's test and works well with old blood stains
Question 2: Inquest in a case of custodial death is handled by
- A. Police inspector
- B. Superintendent of Police
- C. Executive magistrate (Correct Answer)
- D. Jail superintendent
Explanation: ***Executive magistrate***- In India, an inquest in a case of **custodial death** (death in police lock-up or judicial custody/jail) is mandatory and must be conducted by a **Judicial Magistrate or an Executive Magistrate** under Section 176(1A) of the CrPC.- This requirement ensures the investigation is independent and impartial, reducing potential cover-up by the police or prison authorities.*Police inspector*- The **Police inspector** conducts inquests only for deaths that are suspicious, unnatural, or suicidal (Section 174 CrPC), but not for custodial deaths.- An inquest into a custodial death must be conducted by an authority outside the police establishment to ensure **transparency and accountability**.*Jail superintendent*- The **Jail superintendent** is the administrative head of the prison facility where the death occurred and cannot conduct the inquest due to inherent **conflict of interest**.- Their role is limited to immediately reporting the death to the appropriate Executive Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate, as mandated by law.*Superintendent of Police*- The **Superintendent of Police (SP)** is part of the police hierarchy and therefore not designated to conduct an inquest into a **custodial death**, as the investigation must be external to the involved agency.- The SP's authority is usually related to supervising police investigations, not conducting the specific **magisterial or judicial inquiry** required in these sensitive cases.
Question 3: Identify the type of homicide caused by smothering and traumatic asphyxia.
- A. Garrotting
- B. Burking (Correct Answer)
- C. Bansdola
- D. Mugging
Explanation: ***Burking***- This term refers to a specific method of **homicide** where death is caused by a combination of **smothering** (covering the mouth and nose) and **traumatic asphyxia** (compression of the chest and abdomen).- This technique prevents both air entry into the lungs and interferes with the respiratory diaphragm, ensuring rapid **asphyxia**.*Mugging*- *Mugging* is primarily defined as a **robbery** or theft involving violence or the threat of violence, not a specific mechanism of lethal asphyxia.- If death occurs during a mugging, the cause (e.g., blunt force trauma, stabbing, or **strangulation**) would define the injury, not the act of mugging itself.*Garrotting*- *Garrotting* specifically refers to a form of **ligature strangulation** often carried out using a specialized instrument or wire tightened around the neck.- Death results from occlusion of the **carotid arteries** and **jugular veins**, causing cerebral ischemia and congestion, or direct compression of the trachea.*Bansdola*- *Bansdola* is a historically recognized method of homicide, particularly in India, involving two people applying pressure to the victim's neck using a **bamboo stick** (*bans*).- This technique is a severe form of localized **strangulation** resulting in rapid mechanical asphyxia and vascular occlusion.
Question 4: According to the law, nothing is an offense if a person is of an unsound mind and is not able to understand that the nature and consequences of his/her act are wrong. Which rule of insanity applies in this case?
- A. Irresistible impulse rule
- B. Durham's rule
- C. Mc Naughton's rule (Correct Answer)
- D. Currens rule
Explanation: ***Mc Naughton's rule***- This rule is the foundational test for legal insanity in many jurisdictions, which states that a defendant is legally insane if, at the time of the crime, they labored under such a defect of reason, from disease of the mind, as not to know the nature and quality of the act, or if they did know it, that they did not know they were doing what was **wrong**.- The essential criterion focuses on the **cognitive capacity** of the person—whether they understood the difference between right and wrong regarding the specific act.*Durham's rule*- Also known as the **"product test"**, this rule holds that an accused is not criminally responsible if their unlawful act was the **product** of mental disease or defect.- It was criticized for being too broad, focusing on the **causation** (act being a product of illness) rather than the defendant's cognitive capacity to appreciate wrongfulness.*Currens rule*- This option is not a universally recognized independent legal standard for insanity and does not correspond to the cognitive test described in the question.- It is sometimes confused with tests that focus on whether the patient's crime was a consequence of their mental condition, similar to the scope of the **Durham rule** or the ALI Model Penal Code test.*Irresistible impulse rule*- This rule, also called the **"policeman at the elbow"** test, focuses on the **volitional capacity**—the inability to control one's actions, even while knowing the act is wrong.- It differs from the cognitive focus of the M'Naghten rule because the person is aware the act is wrong but feels an overwhelming, **irresistible necessity** to commit it.
Question 5: In which poisoning is cherry red hypostasis seen on post-mortem examination?
- A. CO Poisoning (Correct Answer)
- B. Hydrogen sulphide
- C. Yellow phosphorus
- D. Hydrogen cyanide
Explanation: ***CO Poisoning***- **Cherry red hypostasis** is the hallmark post-mortem finding in fatal **carbon monoxide (CO)** poisoning.- The bright red color is due to the formation of stable **carboxyhemoglobin (COHb)**, which retains this color even when blood pools after death.*Hydrogen sulphide* - Post-mortem findings usually include a **dark, tarry blood** consistency and the characteristic odor of **rotten eggs**.- It primarily acts by inhibiting cellular respiration, leading to asphyxia, but does not produce a bright red compound in the blood.*Yellow phosphorus*- This poisoning primarily causes severe **gastrointestinal irritation**, followed by fatal liver and kidney damage, leading to **jaundice**.- Post-mortem signs may include massive **hepatic necrosis** and luminescence (glowing) of the skin or vomit in the dark.*Hydrogen cyanide*- Cyanide poisoning can sometimes produce a pinkish flush or generalized redness but is typically associated with the odor of **bitter almonds**.- It causes cellular asphyxia by blocking **cytochrome c oxidase**, resulting in highly oxygenated venous blood (arterialization), but not the intense **cherry red** hue of CO poisoning.
Question 6: A public witness of the incident is asked to attend the court and record his evidence. Which type of evidence is provided by the witness to the court?
- A. Circumstantial evidence
- B. Subpoena
- C. Oral evidence (Correct Answer)
- D. Hearsay evidence
Explanation: ***Oral evidence***- This is testimony given verbally by a witness under **oath or affirmation** in court, based on their personal knowledge and direct observation of the facts of the case.- As the individual is a direct public witness of the incident, their statement recorded in court constitutes direct or **oral evidence**.*Hearsay evidence*- This refers to evidence based on what the witness heard from someone else, rather than what they personally observed, making it generally **inadmissible** in court proceedings.- Since the witness directly observed the incident, their evidence is a primary account, not a secondary or **hearsay** report.*Subpoena*- A **subpoena** is a legal document or writ issued by the court ordering a witness to appear in court or produce specific documents.- It is an **instrument of summons** compelling the attendance of the witness, not the actual type of evidence delivered by them.*Circumstantial evidence*- This is indirect evidence that requires the court to draw inferences from facts to establish the conclusion (e.g., establishing **motive or opportunity**).- The witness is providing a statement based on what they *saw*, which is direct evidence, not evidence relying on secondary inference or **circumstantial facts**.
Question 7: Post-mortem examination of a dead body reveals contraction of the hands with absent primary relaxation. What is this suggestive of?
- A. Rigor mortis
- B. Algor mortis
- C. Livor mortis
- D. Cadaveric spasm (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Cadaveric spasm (Correct Answer)*** - Cadaveric spasm (also called **instantaneous rigor**) occurs **immediately upon death**, without passing through the stage of **primary muscular flaccidity**. - The key diagnostic feature is **absent primary relaxation**, which distinguishes it from typical rigor mortis. - This phenomenon often involves a **tight grasp** on an object (e.g., weapon, hair) and is characteristic of death occurring under conditions of **intense emotional stress** or **great physical exertion**. - It is **localized** (commonly hands) and **permanent** once formed. *Rigor mortis (Incorrect)* - Rigor mortis is a **delayed** post-mortem stiffening that begins **2-4 hours after death**. - Critically, it is **preceded by a period of primary flaccidity** (primary relaxation), unlike cadaveric spasm. - It is a **generalized** metabolic change caused by **ATP depletion** and affects all muscles sequentially. - It is **temporary** and eventually resolves. *Livor mortis (Incorrect)* - Livor mortis (post-mortem lividity) describes the **purplish discoloration** of dependent parts of the body due to gravity-induced pooling of blood. - This is a **coloring phenomenon** related to circulation cessation, not a form of **muscular contraction** or stiffening. *Algor mortis (Incorrect)* - Algor mortis is the process of **post-mortem cooling** of the body until it reaches ambient temperature. - This helps estimate the **time since death** but has no relationship with **muscle rigidity** or contraction.
Question 8: Study of death in all aspects is known as:
- A. Thanatology (Correct Answer)
- B. Forensic anthropology
- C. Toxicology
- D. Molecular death
Explanation: ***Correct: Thanatology*** - It is the academic and scientific study of death, encompassing **medical, psychological, social, and ethical aspects** related to dying and death. - The term comes from the Greek word *Thanatos* (death) and *logia* (study). - This is the comprehensive field that studies death "in all aspects" as stated in the question. *Incorrect: Forensic anthropology* - Involves the application of physical anthropology and osteology (study of bones) to **legal issues** in forensic contexts. - Primarily focuses on the **identification and examination of human skeletal remains** to aid law enforcement. - This is a specialized subset of forensic science, not the general study of death itself. *Incorrect: Toxicology* - The scientific study of the adverse effects of **chemical, physical, or biological agents** on living organisms and ecosystems. - While crucial for determining causes of death involving **poisoning or drugs**, it is a specialized branch of forensic science. - Not the comprehensive study of death in all its aspects. *Incorrect: Molecular death* - Refers specifically to the death of **individual cells and tissues** that occurs post-mortem following somatic death. - This is a **biological process or state**, not a field of study or academic discipline. - Distinguished from somatic death (death of the whole organism) and brain death.
Question 9: Following the recovery of a skull by the police, the relatives of a missing person want to confirm his identity. Which of the following techniques can be used to figure out a person's identity using the skull and photograph of the person?
- A. Anthropometry
- B. Superimposition (Correct Answer)
- C. DNA fingerprinting
- D. Cheiloscopy
Explanation: ***Superimposition*** - **Superimposition technique** involves electronically or manually overlaying the antemortem photograph onto the recovered skull image to align key craniometric points (e.g., orbits, nasal aperture, chin). - This method is specifically designed to visually compare the distinctive features and contours of the facial structure recorded in the photograph with the underlying skeletal structure of the **skull**, confirming identity. *Anthropometry* - **Anthropometry** is the scientific study of the measurements and proportions of the human body, specifically used in forensic science to estimate age, sex, and stature from skeletal remains. - While useful for broad identification parameters, it relies on quantitative measurements of the skull (like cranial indices) and does not involve the direct visual comparison required when matching a photograph. *DNA fingerprinting* - **DNA fingerprinting** requires comparison of the recovered genetic profile from the bone tissue with a known reference sample (e.g., from suspected relatives or personal items). - Although highly accurate, this technique does not utilize the *photograph* as the primary comparative material; it compares genetic information, not morphological features. *Cheiloscopy* - **Cheiloscopy** is the forensic technique involving the analysis and identification of lip prints (furrows and wrinkles on the lips). - This technique is completely irrelevant for identification based on a **skull** and a general antemortem photograph.