title: A killing of Baby Doe.
abstract: An anencephalic infant died in the Neonatal Intensive Care unit six hours after birth. Eighteen months later, in a discussion of intrusive federal "Baby Doe" regulations with co-workers at the hospital, a registered nurse mentioned that he had found a way to avoid these provisions, and that he had in fact done so on one occasion by killing this particular infant. A co-worker related his story to police, and the "wheels of justice" were set into motion. I describe the chronology of events and the pathologic findings in this case of infanticide, purportedly committed "with mercyaforethought."
authors.affiliation: Division of Forensic Pathology, School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000757:Anencephaly / Q000473:pathology; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007237:Infanticide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology