Autopsy of a newborn recovered from a suspected infanticide reveals milk curds in the stomach along with air in the small intestine. The correct inference is:

• A The child was stillborn and the milk entered passively after death
• B The findings prove the child was full term
• C The child died during labour from birth asphyxia
• D The child was born alive and survived long enough to be fed ✓

Explanation

Milk in the stomach is evidence of extrauterine life, since milk can reach the stomach only if the child sucked or was fed after birth, proving live birth and survival for some time afterwards. Air beyond the stomach in the small intestine further indicates survival of several hours. A stillborn stomach contains only amniotic fluid and its swallowed debris, never milk. Death during labour precludes feeding, and neither finding carries any implication about gestational maturity.

Reference: Modi's Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology, 23rd ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.