Legal Definitions - infanticide

Infanticide

Infanticide refers to the act of killing a newborn child. This term is most commonly applied when a parent, or someone acting with a parent's consent, causes the death of an infant very shortly after birth. While specific legal definitions can vary by jurisdiction, it generally pertains to the death of a baby within a very limited timeframe following delivery.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of infanticide:

• Example 1: A young mother, suffering from severe postpartum psychosis, gives birth alone at home and, in a delusional state, causes the death of her baby within the first 24 hours of its life.
  Explanation: This scenario illustrates infanticide because it involves a parent causing the death of their child very shortly after birth, often with the presence of mitigating circumstances like severe mental health issues, which can be a factor in how such cases are legally addressed.
• Example 2: A couple, facing extreme financial hardship and feeling overwhelmed by the unexpected birth of their fifth child, makes a joint decision to intentionally neglect the infant, leading to its death from starvation within the first week of life.
  Explanation: This demonstrates infanticide as it involves both parents consenting to actions (or inactions) that directly result in the death of their newborn child within the critical early period.
• Example 3: A desperate teenager, secretly giving birth in a remote location, panics and abandons the newborn infant in a secluded area, leading to its death from exposure within hours.
  Explanation: This is a clear case of a parent causing the death of their newborn child shortly after birth, even if the direct intent was abandonment rather than active killing, as the abandonment directly led to the infant's death.