Starvation, Neglect, Custodial and Torture-Related Deaths MCQs

Forensic Medicine · 16 free questions with answers & explanations.

1. At autopsy of a person alleged to have died from torture in custody, which of the following findings would be MOST consistent with previous episodes of blunt injury that were allowed to heal partially before death?
2. According to the Istanbul Protocol (UN Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture), the classification of physical evidence of torture includes 'diagnostic' and which other evidence category that acknowledges limitations of examination?
3. A prisoner dies in custody. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) guidelines require the District Magistrate to video-record the postmortem examination and send a copy of the PM report within how many days of the death?
4. At autopsy of a suspected custodial death victim, the pathologist notes multiple deep contusions with preserved overlying skin, bilateral posterior rib fractures, and subconjunctival haemorrhages. The pattern MOST consistent with which mechanism of death?
5. At autopsy of a body suspected of death from chronic starvation and neglect, the MOST specific macroscopic finding would be:
6. The Istanbul Protocol (UN Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture, 1999) classifies documentation of torture evidence. What is its primary medico-legal relevance in Indian practice?
7. At autopsy of a suspected custodial death, the pathologist finds multiple contusions in various stages of healing on the trunk and thighs, subconjunctival hemorrhages, and faint linear marks on the wrists consistent with ligature restraint. The cause of death is pulmonary embolism from a deep vein thrombosis. Under Indian law, this death MUST be treated as:
8. Falanga (beating of the soles of the feet) is a common torture method that can be difficult to detect at autopsy when performed without leaving obvious surface marks. The most useful autopsy investigation to document falanga-related injury is:
9. The Istanbul Protocol (UN Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture) classifies physical findings at medical examination of torture survivors into which categories?
10. A child brought to casualty shows sunken fontanelle, loose skin, gross muscle wasting, apathy, and age-inappropriate weight of 45% expected for age. There are old, healing pressure sores and no acute injury. This presentation is MOST consistent with:
11. In India, the investigation of custodial death is mandatory under which provision, and which independent authority must be notified within 24 hours of the death occurring in judicial custody?
12. At autopsy of a suspected custodial torture death, the forensic pathologist finds no external injuries. Which internal finding would MOST strongly support blunt trauma inflicted without external marks (a hallmark of 'clean torture')?
13. The Istanbul Protocol (UN Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture) classifies physical findings after torture using five levels of consistency. A finding described as 'consistent with' torture means:
14. Under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 (BNSS), when a person dies while in police custody, a magistrate's inquiry (Section 194 BNSS, formerly Section 176 CrPC) is MANDATORY. In addition to the Magistrate's inquest, which other investigation is also legally mandated?
15. At autopsy of a person who died in custody, the following injuries are found: bilateral conjunctival petechiae, bruising over the soles of the feet, parallel linear abrasions on the back, and no injuries on the face. The pattern of injuries is MOST consistent with:
16. In cases of starvation deaths, which postmortem finding is MOST pathognomonic of starvation rather than wasting from chronic disease?