Murder of the Newborn: A Psychiatric Review of Neonaticide

¹ An instructor in psychiatry. Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2040 Abington Rd., Cleveland, Ohio 44106

The author believes that the killing of a newborn baby is a separate entity from other filicides, differing in regard to the diagnosis, motives, and legal disposition of the murderer. Whereas most filicides are committed for "altruistic" reasons, most neonaticides are carried out simply because the child is not wanted. The author notes the different psychological characterisctics of mothers who commit these two crimes. Legal considerations and the present status of neonaticide are also discussed.

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