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Lecture. 1 On Infanticide, Battered Baby Syndrome, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Lecture. 1 On Infanticide, Battered Baby Syndrome, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Lecture. 1 On Infanticide, Battered Baby Syndrome, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lecture the students will be knowing definitions ofInfanticide
Feticide
Still born baby
Dead born body
Maceration
Foetal age estimation
Signs of Live birth
Precipitate Labor/ Unconscious Delivery
Criminal causes of death of new born babies
Autopsy on bodies of new born dead bodies
Child Abuse i.e. Battered Baby Syndrome
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and its medicolegal aspects.
INFANTICIDE
It means unlawful destruction of a newly born full term viable infant up to one year of age
after birth. It is punishable under SEC 302 PPC. Although most of the new born babies
are destroyed with hours after birth but for Legal purposes newly born infant under this
Act is defined as one who is in the first year of its life.
FOETICIDE is the destruction of the foetus at any time prior to birth.
NEONATICIDE is the destruction of the child in the first month
FILICIDE (Latin filius means son and filia means daughter, is deliberate act of killing of a
child by the parents.
Punishment for infanticide is death, life imprisonment and also fine.
Infanticide differs from ordinary murder. It is necessary for prosecution to prove that
child was alive and viable at the time of birth and criminal violence was applied to foetus
after birth.
According to English Infanticide Act of 1938 the mother may not be held responsible for
killing her child when her mental balance is disturbed by experience of labour and
tension and strain of child birth and its after effects, she is not charged and punishment
is two years imprisonment.
MOTIVE FOR INFANTICIDE:
Was the child born dead if so was it still born or dead born?
Was the child viable, mature or immature?
Was the child born alive? if so has he breathed and extend of breathing.
For how long did the child survived after birth?
Signs of recent delivery or was the delivery compatible with age of child (i.e.
changes in breasts and genital tract.)
Evidence from people with whom the suspected woman has been intimately
related in work or social life
Careful examination by police and doctor of the wrapping in which the child was
thrown e.g. particular newspaper used can lead to the accused.
By sweepers who collect discharges from houses e.g., pads which show stains
of blood or discharges from the vagina and uterus i.e. Lochia because of recent
delivery.
MEDICOLEGAL ASPECTS.
WAS THE CHILD BORN DEAD, IF SO WAS STILLBORN OR DEAD BORN.
It is necessary to distinguish between stillborn and dead born.
STILL BORN OR SILENT CHILD
Child, who has issued from its mother after 28th week or after viability and it did not at
any time after being expelled, breathed or showed any other signs of life.
Still births are frequent being 1:7 births, Proportion in primiparas being 1:11 and are due
o many causes both before and during birth. Still births occur commonly among illiterate
and immature male children, when labour is usually unassisted. If the putrefaction has
started it may occur within the uterus or from outside, when foetus inhales bacteria then
putrefaction starts from within outwards.
DEAD BORN CHILD.
Child who died within the uterus. Age should be above 28th weeks according to some
but some say that age does not count. Dead born child shows signs of.
Putrefaction.
Continue
When foetus dies in uterus aseptic autolysis of foetus commence, although the body is
sterilized and no bacteria are there, even then also autolysis occurs.
If dead foetus is in uterus surrounded by liquor amnii and remains there for at least 24
hours, then signs of maceration occur. Process is aseptic because the child enclosed in
membranes is in aseptic sterile condition, when membranes rupture, air enters in and
then signs of putrefaction appear
FINDINGS OF MACERATION.
Internal tissues are soft and edematous, turbid red fluid collects in serous
cavities.
Important radiological sign known as Spauldings sign which confirms over
riding, even when foetus is in uterus the +ve sign shows that the foetus is
dead.
Brain is grayish red, pulpy mass.
Umbilical cord is soft, smooth, thickened and is easily lacerated.
Do histological examination if in doubt. Degeneration of nuclear structure and
disintegration of cells of muscular tissue and internal organs.
MACERATION (CONT)
D. WEIGHT DETERMINATION
Weight of unborn foetus of 20 weeks is up to 400 Gms. From 20th week onwards for
every one week there is an increase of 100 Gms, up to 36th weeks or for every 4 weeks
rise is 400 Gms. In last months after 36 weeks every week rise of weight is twice i.e.
Circumstantial
By doctor doing post mortem.
CIRCUMSTANTIAL:
Circumstantial evidence is taken in civil cases. Witnesses who saw the child having
muscular movements, twitching of eye lids, hearing heart beats and cries. Pulsation of
cord after child is born is evidence of live birth, mere cry or muscular movement does
not constitute proof of live birth, child may cry in uterus or vagina.
If child cries in uterus ---VAGITUS UTERINALIS.
If child cries in vagina --- VAGITUS VAGINALIS
Muscular movement or flickering of muscles show child is born. Cellular life continues
after death of the child, muscles may twitch for some time after body is dead and it is
therefore not safe to assume that twitching of muscles indicate life.
In criminal cases medical examiner is asked to prove by post mortem that the child was
born alive.
FOLLOWING POINTS ARE NOTED.
SIGNS OF ESTABLISHMENT OF RESPIRATION.
Before birth lungs receive small amount of blood which is necessary. After birth
pulmonary circulation is established. These produce physical changes in form of.
Changes in chest: Flat before birth and arched after birth.
Changes in Diaphragm: Arched up at level of 3rd or 4th rib, if respiration has not taken
place. Descend to the level of 6th 7th Rib after respiration.
CHANGES IN LUNGS
UNBREATHED LUNG BREATHED LUNG.
See diaphragm.
See Lungs and Stomach.