Citation

Annu. Rev. Popul. Law 1987; 14: 343-344.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1987, Harvard Law School Library)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12346698

Abstract

This document reprints North Dakota's 1987 Act on Offenses Against Unborn Children. This Act does not apply to death or injury to an unborn child during legal abortion or to diagnosis and treatment carried out according to the usual and customary standards of medical practice. The Act holds that a person (not including the pregnant woman) is guilty of murder of an unborn child if that person: 1) intentionally or knowingly causes the death, 2) causes the death under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of the life of the unborn child or the pregnant woman, or 3) causes the death in the commission of a crime. This latter offense is mitigated by several specific circumstances reflecting the lack of intent to do harm. The death or injury of an unborn child can lead to charges of felony murder, manslaughter, negligent homicide, aggravated assault, or assault, depending upon the circumstances.

Language: en