What does feticide refer to in legal terms?

Feticide in legal terms specifically refers to an act that causes the death of a fetus. This concept recognizes a fetus as a separate victim in cases of harm, usually in the context of violent crimes against a pregnant woman. In jurisdictions where feticide laws exist, they typically impose criminal liability for actions that lead to the termination of a fetus's life outside of lawful abortion procedures.

The focus on the death of the fetus is important for distinguishing feticide from other related concepts in law. For instance, simply causing bodily harm to a pregnant woman does not necessarily equate to feticide unless it leads directly to the death of the fetus. Similarly, crimes against minors are distinct, as they pertain to living individuals who have been born, while legal termination of pregnancy refers to lawful medical procedures rather than criminal acts. Thus, the essence of feticide lies in its definition as the act resulting in fetal death, which is outlined in the legal framework of various jurisdictions.