I mean, it wouldn't be murder, so would they be able to charge her with anything? Do you legally HAVE TO report that a fetus was a stillborn or bury it? What are her rights as the child's parent? I realize this will spark debate because of religious issues but if we can keep it clean, that would be great.
2007-07-31 09:26:15 · 6 answers · asked by ? 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I was thinking about the "keeping it in a place that is not zoned for a corpse" idea. that seems to be the only thing she would be able to be charged with. Other than that she just needs some serious therapy, preferably inpatient :)
2007-07-31 09:37:27 · update #1
But they woudl have to prove that it was her "intent" to hide the corpses so it could not be determined if it were stillborn or not, hard sell I should say. Terrific answer BTW :)
2007-07-31 10:03:17 · update #2
You are right, it would not be considered murder but in some states, Wisconsin being one of them failure to report the stillborn would constitute as concealing the death of a child.
2007-07-31 09:48:40 · answer #1 · answered by RLewis 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If the baby was stillbord, the mother cannot be charged with murder. She can probably be charged with laws protecting corpses, which vary by jurisdiction. Most states have laws prohibiting people from damaging or interfering with corpses. In addition, there may be laws requiring the reporting of a death. If the fetus was viable, despite the fact that it was stillborn, it counts as a fetus. This is why if someone who miscarries and doesn't report it before viability hasn't done anything legally wrong.
2007-07-31 16:39:12 · answer #2 · answered by Tara P 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are no charges, unless she did something w/ intent. And once it is born, it's not a fetus, it's a baby, that 'will' be shown due respect, and get a proper burial. Since most births happen in a professional atmosphere, the doctor / midwife, would make the proper reports.
2007-07-31 16:32:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is some sort of law on the books about theft of a corpse. I don't remember the exact wording. Also, there may be a local law on the books stating you cannot bury a corpse in a non-zoned spot (i.e. outside a cemetery).
2007-07-31 16:29:10 · answer #4 · answered by Joshua B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not reporting a death may be a crime. and there's the matter of what was done with the corpses.
I'm not sure, really.
I hope that woman gets the mental help she appears to need.
2007-07-31 16:38:30 · answer #5 · answered by American citizen and taxpayer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
what areyou talking about. what woman...and what do you mean by "saved".
2007-07-31 16:31:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋