FETAL ABUSE

• Jurisdiction: Australia

[41C.1200] Overview

Fetal abuse or child abuse in utero is not generally accepted as a recognised form of child abuse. Many jurisdictions currently accept notifications to statutory child protection authorities about actual or potential harm to unborn children but this practice is far from universal.

Because the unborn child is not legally recognised as "a person" with human rights, the law and the operation of the systems to protect children usually do not intervene to protect unborn children in the same...