NEET-PG FMT (Forensic Medicine) Previous Year Questions (2017–2026)

Correct answer: D. Aluminium phosphide.

Why this is correct: Aluminium phosphide (celphos, a grain fumigant) reacts with moisture and gastric acid to liberate phosphine gas. On warming the aspirate, phosphine rises and reduces silver nitrate to metallic silver, turning the impregnated paper black (the silver nitrate paper test). Phosphine causes profound cardiotoxicity, refractory shock and metabolic acidosis; there is no specific antidote, so management is supportive, sometimes with magnesium sulphate and intensive haemodynamic support.

Aluminium phosphide tablets - release phosphine that blackens silver nitrate paper.

Incorrect Options:

• A. Paraquat: A herbicide causing progressive pulmonary fibrosis; it does not release phosphine or blacken silver nitrate paper.


Paraquat, a lung-toxic herbicide.

• B. Arsenic poisoning: Detected by the Reinsch or Marsh test (silver-grey mirror), not by phosphine liberation.


Arsenic - identified by the Marsh/Reinsch test.

• C. Organophosphate insecticide: Causes a cholinergic crisis with low pseudocholinesterase; the antidote is atropine plus pralidoxime, and it does not blacken silver nitrate paper.


An organophosphate (malathion) - treated with atropine and pralidoxime.

High-Yield Facts:

• Aluminium phosphide releases phosphine, which reduces silver nitrate paper to black metallic silver.
• There is no antidote; care is supportive, with magnesium sulphate and aggressive shock management.
• Arsenic is detected by the Marsh and Reinsch tests; organophosphates by low cholinesterase.
• Phosphine has a garlic or decaying-fish odour and causes severe cardiotoxic shock.

Correct answer: A. Intermediate range.

Why this is correct: Tattooing (stippling) is caused by unburnt and partially burnt powder grains striking the skin. Its presence, together with the absence of singeing and blackening, places the muzzle beyond the reach of flame (singeing, up to about 15 cm) and soot (blackening, up to about 30 cm) but within range of powder grains (tattooing, up to about 60 to 100 cm). This combination defines an intermediate (medium) range of fire.

Intermediate range: scattered powder tattooing without soot or singeing.

Incorrect Options:

• B. Contact range: Shows muzzle imprint, singeing, and soot/gases driven into the wound (with possible stellate tearing over bone) - not seen here.


Contact range: dense central deposition at the muzzle.

• C. Close range: Within about 30 cm there is prominent blackening (soot) and often singeing, which are absent in this case.


Close range: heavy blackening (soot) around the hole.

• D. Distant range: Beyond the reach of powder grains there is only the bullet hole with an abrasion collar - no tattooing at all.


Distant range: only the entry hole, no powder marks.

High-Yield Facts:

• Singeing of hair occurs within about 15 cm; blackening (soot) up to about 30 cm.
• Tattooing (stippling) from powder grains extends to about 60 to 100 cm and cannot be wiped off.
• Tattooing alone (no singeing/soot) indicates intermediate range.
• Distant range shows only the entry hole with an abrasion collar and grease collar.

Correct answer: B. Proceed under emergency implied consent.

Why this is correct: In a genuine life-threatening emergency where the patient is incapable of consenting and no authorised relative is available, the doctor may proceed with immediate treatment under the doctrine of necessity (emergency/implied consent). The law presumes a reasonable person would consent to life-saving intervention, so delaying essential surgery would be negligent. Consent from police is not valid consent for treatment, and waiting for a relative or administrator would dangerously delay care.

Life-saving surgery proceeds under the doctrine of necessity (emergency implied consent).

Incorrect Options:

• A. Obtain written police permission first: The police cannot give consent for medical treatment; requiring it would only delay life-saving care.


Police cannot consent to a patient's treatment.

• C. Wait for a relative to arrive: Delaying essential emergency surgery to await a relative would be negligent in a life-threatening situation.


Waiting for relatives would dangerously delay treatment.

• D. Await the medical superintendent: Administrative permission is not required to render immediate life-saving care under necessity.


Administrative sign-off is not needed for emergency care.

High-Yield Facts:

• Doctrine of necessity permits emergency treatment of an incapacitated patient without formal consent.
• Consent for treatment must come from the patient or a legally authorised surrogate, not the police.
• Implied consent applies when a reasonable person would agree to life-saving intervention.
• Do only what is necessary to save life or prevent serious harm until proper consent can be obtained.