ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 6

Spontaneous Births into Toilets
Mitchell, EK
Medical examiner, Onondaga County, NY

Davis, JH
Chief medical examiner, Dade County, FL

(Received 25 June 1983; accepted 25 August 1983)

Abstract

Since inception of the Dade County Medical Examiner Department in 1956 and the end of 1982 a total of 18 spontaneous births into toilets were investigated. A retrospective review of these cases revealed a high degree of maternal denial of pregnancy and refusal of responsibility for the fetus by primiparous mothers of term births, the instances of most questionable manner of death. A consideration in the examination of these natal deaths should be investigation of maternal postnatal behavior along with the circumstances of birth and autopsy findings.

Keywords:
pathology and biology, birth, death

Paper ID: JFS11708J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11708J
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