Legal Medicine

Question 1

The preferred thoracoabdominal autopsy incision which allows greater maneuverability and access to the internal organs is the

a. I-shaped incision
b. T-shaped incision
c. U-shaped incision
d. Y-shaped incision

Answer 1

d. Y-shaped incision

Question 2

A 33 year old female was previously diagnosed to have advanced cervical cancer for which she was operated on and given adjuvant radio- and chemotherapy. She developed difficulty of breathing while at her home and was rushed to the hospital. She was found arrested at the emergency room and could not be revived. The underlying cause of death is

a. Complications of radio- and chemotherapy
b. Acute respiratory failure
c. Cervical cancer
d. Multiple organ failure

Answer 2

C

cervical cancer

Question 3

If a surgeon testifies in court regarding some purely factual evidence regarding his surgical procedure he/she is

a. A medical witness
b. An ordinary witness
c. An expert witness
d. A professional witness

Answer 3

d. A professional witness

Question 4

A 25 year old male was on a motorbike when he collided with a bus and was run over. His left leg had to be amputated below the knee.

a. The surgically amputated knee has to be sent to pathology
b. A death certificate should be issued for the left leg
c. The time of amputation is the surgeon’s pronouncement of time of death in the certificate
d. All are true

Answer 4

a. The surgically amputated knee has to be sent to pathology

Question 5

If despite a thorough, objective investigation a definite manner of death cannot be arrived at, the death is classified as

a. Unknown
b. Undetermined
c. Unresolved
d. Unnatural

Answer 5

b. Undetermined

Question 6

The physical finding most consistently present in cases of hanging by ligature is

a. Ligature furrow
b. Ligature furrow with suspension point
c. Hyoid bone fractures
d. Thyroid superior horn fractures

Answer 6

b. Ligature furrow with suspension point

Question 7

In packaging crime scene evidence, wet evidence should be

a. Dried at the scene and packaged in plastic
b. Dried at the scene and packaged in paper
c. Dried at the lab and packaged in plastic
d. Dried at the lab and packaged in paper

Answer 7

d. Dried at the lab and packaged in paper

Question 8

When estimating postmortem interval, which of the following is least useful?

a. Gastric contents
b. Insect colonies
c. Rectal temperature
d. Postmortem hypostasis

Answer 8

d. Postmortem hypostasis

Question 9

Estimation of age can be done through

a. fingerprints
b. tattoos
c. dentition
d. DNA analysis

Answer 9

c. dentition

Question 10

Algor mortis is faster if

a. The individual was septic
b. The body is in a fetal position
c. The body is attired in shirt, jacket, pants and socks
d. The body is exposed to rain

Answer 10

d. The body is exposed to rain

Question 11

Marking injuries on a reference anatomic diagram best illustrates

a. The position of the assailant during the assault
b. The position of the victim during the assault
c. Intent of the assailant to maim or kill
d. The distribution of the injuries on the body

Answer 11

d. The distribution of the injuries on the body

Question 12

If a scalp wound shows intact hair follicles, crushed margins, and intact tissue strands across the wound, it must be

a. An incised wound
b. A laceration
c. A superficial cut
d. A projectile injury

Answer 12

b. A laceration

Question 13

The trajectory of a bullet wound determined from an autopsy of the body indicates

a. The position of the victim when the gunshot wound was sustained
b. The position of the shooter
c. Whether the shot was intentional or accidental
d. The bullet’s path inside the body in the reference anatomic position

Answer 13

d. The bullet’s path inside the body in the reference anatomic position