A 16-year-old rape survivor presents at 16 weeks of pregnancy. All of the following are responsibilities of the examining doctor EXCEPT:

Appeared in: INI-CET EXAM -2026

Explanation

The correct option identifies the action that is not an absolute duty of the doctor.
While parental consent for minors is a general rule, the Supreme Court of India has empowered minor rape survivors to provide their own consent for medical procedures, including MTP.
This prioritizes the minor's autonomy, health, and confidentiality over the procedural requirement of parental consent.
Therefore, obtaining parental consent is not an indispensable responsibility, especially if the minor is capable of giving informed consent or if seeking parental consent could be detrimental to the minor's well-being.

Option A: Preserving fetal tissues for DNA analysis is a critical medicolegal responsibility to secure evidence against the assailant in a rape case.
Option B: Informing the police is a mandatory legal obligation under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, because the victim is a minor (16 years old).
Option C: The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Amendment Act, 2021, specifies that for pregnancies up to 20 weeks, the opinion of one registered medical practitioner is sufficient. Since the pregnancy is at 16 weeks, this is the correct legal procedure to follow.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Medicolegal responsibilities in cases of minor rape survivors, involving the POCSO Act and the MTP Act as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a vital role in providing compassionate, non-judgmental care and psychological support to survivors of sexual assault.
It is crucial for nurses to be aware of the latest legal provisions (POCSO, MTP Act) to guide patients correctly and ensure their rights are protected.
Nurses must meticulously document all findings and procedures, as the medical record is a legal document.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key elements of the question: a minor (16-year-old), rape survivor, 16 weeks pregnant, and the keyword 'EXCEPT'.
The 'EXCEPT' keyword means you must find the statement that is FALSE or not a responsibility.
Recall or look up the relevant Indian laws: the POCSO Act for minors and the MTP Act for termination of pregnancy.
Evaluate each option against these laws.
Option A: Evidence collection (DNA) is standard in criminal cases. This is a responsibility.
Option B: The POCSO Act makes reporting offenses against minors mandatory. This is a responsibility.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Medicolegal responsibilities in cases of minor rape survivors, involving the POCSO Act and the MTP Act.
Stem keywords: 16-year-old, rape survivor, 16 weeks of pregnancy, responsibilities of the examining doctor
Lead-in keywords: EXCEPT
Clinical cues: Patient is a minor (16 years old), which invokes the POCSO Act.
Clinical cues: Pregnancy is at 16 weeks, which falls under specific clauses of the MTP Act.

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E6 Midwifery Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Sandeep Kaur p. 17-25

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 1

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

Practise the full INI-CET EXAM -2026

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.