Infant Death due to Smothering

Abstract

Background: Infanticide has varying terminology and definitions in different jurisdictions. It is usually defined as the murder of a child in the first 24 hours of life, whereas in the US it is defined as the murder of a person one week or less. In the UK, the adultery of a baby, who is not yet one year old by his own mother is referred to as infanticide and is given a lighter sentence due to considerations of mental status. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, the basis for consideration used is the motive for fear of being caught giving birth to a child and the murder is carried out immediately during childbirth. As for determining that murder is the murder of one’s own child or ordinary murder, a forensic examination is required. Case: A case was reported with the victim of a baby boy in a cardboard box on the road around the housing complex and an examination of the body was carried out in the autopsy room of the Forensic Medicine and Medicolegal Medical Installation of Bhayangkara General Hospital, TK II Medan City according to the Visum Request Letter. Results: it was found that the baby was born alive, viabel, did not get treatment with the estimated age of the baby in the womb was 9-10 months (mature). The cause of death is due to exposure that causes suffocation due to the obstruction of air entering the respiratory tract. Discussion: On examination, the baby was estimated to be aged 9-10 months in the womb (viable). There is no sign of treatment. Bruises were found on the upper and lower lips of the outer and inner parts which indicated the presence of closure of the baby’s mouth by the perpetrator. There are also signs of asphyxia. On internal examination, a positive pulmonary buoyancy test was found and the results of pulmonary histopathology showed that the baby was viable and quite a month. Conclusion: The baby is a victim of murder, so the perpetrator must be held accountable for his actions and can be prosecuted under articles 341, 342 of the Criminal Code if the perpetrator is a biological mother and article 343 of the Criminal Code if there are people who help / do.