Legal Definitions - prolicide

Prolicide refers to the act of killing one's own offspring. In a legal context, it most often specifically describes the crime of intentionally causing the death of a child shortly before or immediately after its birth.

• Example 1: A woman in the advanced stages of pregnancy intentionally consumes a dangerous substance with the express purpose of causing the death of her viable fetus, leading to its demise before birth.
  Explanation: This scenario illustrates prolicide as the deliberate act of killing one's offspring shortly before birth, specifically a viable fetus.
• Example 2: After giving birth to a healthy infant at home, a parent, overwhelmed and intending to prevent the child's survival, intentionally smothers the newborn within minutes of its delivery.
  Explanation: This demonstrates prolicide as the intentional killing of one's offspring immediately after birth, highlighting the specific timeframe often associated with the legal application of the term.