1. The first question on the topic this week is about child abuse. Discuss the major TYPES of abuse and provide examples of each.
2. When is a baby considered a “person” and has the same rights as other people in most jurisdictions? Provide an example of when this distinction is important to identify. You may want to check out the laws in your own state or country.
3. Provide your understanding of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Check out the website:
www.sids.org. Why do you think that we have made progress in understanding SIDS?
4. Read about Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy. Find an example in the literature about when this syndrome was applied to the case. You may use the Internet or library, but you must write a short paragraph outlining the details of the case; don't just give the URL. Post your summary under the Discussion Board, and include the reference of where you found the information.
5. We have heard the term “postpartum depression," that often accompanies the state of mind of a mother after giving birth. Postpartum depression can happen anytime within the first year after childbirth. Bringing a new life into the world can be both a happy occasion and stressful time for a new mother. This syndrome, which is one type of depression, unfortunately sometimes causes the overwhelming urge of mothers to kill their babies. Some refer to postpartum depression as a natural feeling and others view it as "temporary insanity." You are to find a case that deals with a mother who took the life of her infant. Include in your summary whether the mother was found to be suffering from postpartum depression and the type of sentence she received.
For this particular assignment you may search worldwide, as I would like to get examples of several different cases. For example, in England if a mother kills her newborn she is most likely to be given treatment and not charged with a crime. If a mother kills her newborn in the United States, she is likely to be charged with a crime and sentenced for the offense. Therefore, check around, and see what you can find to make this assignment educational for all of us.
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