Foeticide is the act of intentionally killing the fetus. It was considered as a criminal act and it can be carried out through medical means, abortion or by deliberately kicking or punching the pregnant woman’s abdomen.

Foeticide is punishable by the law and anyone who commits it is regarded as a criminal.

See also

• Foeticide vs. legal abortion
• Foeticide in other countries

However, there are cases and situations where in abortions are legally induced and some of these cases included when the life of the fetus could no longer be saved anymore or if it might cause the death of the mother. This act will never be considered as foeticide as it aims to save the life of the mother.

In California, they use the term homicide instead of foeticide for killing an unborn child. However, they do not consider it as homicide if the killing was done to an eight week old embryo. For them, it will only be considered as a crime if the fetus has already reached the stage of vitality and quickening.

In India, foeticide pertains to the general practice of eliminating all female fetuses to secure male offspring. This was carried out by allowing the pregnant woman to undergo ultra-sound and should they find out that the fetus is a female, they would eliminate it because they prefer male fetuses. This condemned practice was due to the growing number of women in the land. This type of practice was also seen in some parts of China.