An 18-year-old girl was brought to the hospital by her mother with history of sexual assault by her 24-year-old coworker in the factory. The mother doesn’t want to inform the police. What will you do as the doctor in charge?

1. A

   Ask guardian for permission to do medicolegal examination

2. B

   Do medicolegal examination with consent of victim

3. C

   Do not collect materials required as forensic evidence

4. D

   Do not inform police

Appeared in: NORCET 10 Mains

Explanation

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• The victim is 18 years old, a legal adult, who can provide her own valid consent for medical examination.
• The primary duty of the doctor is to the patient (the victim), and respecting her autonomy is paramount.
• Performing a medicolegal examination is a crucial step for collecting forensic evidence, which is essential for any future legal proceedings.
• This action correctly balances the need for medical care and evidence collection with the legal principle of informed consent from an adult patient.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: The victim is 18 years old and legally an adult. A guardian's permission is not required for her medical examination.
• Option C: Failing to collect forensic evidence, especially after obtaining consent for the examination, is a serious dereliction of duty. It compromises the legal case for the victim.
• Option D: This is illegal. Sexual assault is a cognizable offense, and under Section 39 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), it is a mandatory legal duty for a doctor to report such cases to the police. The family's wishes do not override this legal obligation.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Medicolegal responsibilities of a doctor in a case of sexual assault involving an adult victim to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
• This scenario highlights the critical intersection of medical ethics, patient autonomy, and legal obligations that healthcare professionals frequently navigate.
• Understanding the legal age of consent and mandatory reporting laws (like CrPC Section 39 and the POCSO Act for minors) is essential for all medical practitioners to avoid legal repercussions and ensure justice for victims.
• What if the victim was 16 years old? The case would fall under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. Reporting to the police would be even more stringent and non-negotiable. Consent for the examination would be taken from the guardian, but the primary focus remains the child's welfare and legal protection.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the key clinical and legal facts in the stem: the crime is 'sexual assault', and the victim's age is '18 years'.
• Recognize that an 18-year-old is a legal adult in India. This is the most crucial piece of information.
• Analyze the options based on the victim's status as an adult. This immediately invalidates the need for guardian consent (Option A).
• Consider the doctor's duties. A medicolegal examination is standard procedure, so not collecting evidence (Option C) is incorrect unless the victim refuses.
• Evaluate the legal requirement for reporting. Sexual assault is a cognizable offense, making police intimation mandatory (ruling out Option D).
• Conclude that the correct first step is to respect the adult victim's autonomy by seeking her consent for the necessary medicolegal examination (Option B).

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Medicolegal responsibilities of a doctor in a case of sexual assault involving an adult victim.
• Stem keywords: 18-year-old, sexual assault, mother doesn’t want to inform police, doctor in charge
• Lead-in keywords: What will you do
• Clinical cues: Victim's age of 18 is critical as it establishes her as a legal adult.
• Clinical cues: Mother's request to not inform police creates a conflict with legal duties.

Question ID

Q_WWRxKEl8hNNtz1-gGnny

Copy ID

Reference Book

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 2579-2581

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 1248-1250