Concealment of birth by secret disposal of dead body in the lavatory of airplane: A case report

Concealment of birth is the act of a parent (or other responsible person) failing to report the birth of a child. The term is sometimes used to refer to hiding the birth of a child from friends or family, but is most often used when the appropriate authorities have not been informed about a stillbirth or the death of a newborn. This is a crime in many countries, with varying punishments. In India according to Section 318 of IPC (Indian Penal Code)-Whoever, by secretly burying or otherwise disposing of the death body of a child whether such child die before or after or during its birth, intentionally conceals or endeavours to conceal the birth of such child, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. Child abandonment is the practice of relinquishing interests and claims over one’s offspring in an illegal way with the intent of never again resuming or reasserting guardianship over them. Baby dumping refers to parents leaving a child younger than 12 months in a public or private place with the intent of terminating their care for the child. In the present case a male fetus was found dead and abandoned on board in the lavatory of airplane with tissue papers filled inside the mouth. During medical examination one 19 year old unmarried female who was a Taekwondo player and going to South Korea to participate in a tournament, showed signs of recent delivery. On further enquiry she admitted that she started having labour pains in flight and self delivered the fetus inside the lavatory of flight on board and abandoned it. She was concealing the pregnancy and delivery because as a rule of the Taekwondo, pregnant woman can not participate in the tournament. Autopsy of the fetus was conducted and it was found as stillborn fetus and finally the case was booked under section 318 of IPC.