Citation

Alfsen GC, Ellingsen CL, Hernæs L. Tidsskr. Nor. Laegeforen. 2013; 133(23/24): 2498-2501.

Vernacular Title

«Barnet har levet og aandet» - sakkyndighet ved døde nyfødte 1910 - 12.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Norske Laegeforening)

DOI

10.4045/tidsskr.13.0898

PMID

24326503

Abstract

One hundred years ago, forensic examination of dead infants was not an uncommon task for doctors in Norway. The key questions were whether the infant had been born alive and whether the manner of death could be explained. We have examined all files (N = 75) concerning stillbirth or infanticide for the years 1910 - 1912 in the archives of the Norwegian Board of Forensic Medicine. Notwithstanding the known shortcomings in the criteria used for assessment of breathing and the fact that the bodies were often severely decomposed, the lung flotation test and the supposed signs of asphyxia were used indiscriminately. Many innocent women were probably imprisoned for infanticide due to peremptory use of criteria now recognised as largely obsolete. Scientific knowledge is changing continuously. Medical experts should be cautious of making judicial conclusions.

Keywords: Drowning; Drowning prevention

Language: no