Zoe Donegan (an unborn foetus) died in utero on Christmas Day 2009 after her mother’s car was hit by an offending driver. The offender was charged and ultimately convicted but under the applicable Crimes Act provisions in NSW only the mother’s injuries were recognised as grievous bodily harm to the pregnant woman.
Zoe’s mother has fought for 12 years for changes to the Crimes Act to give greater recognition to the life of the foetus. Her plight has been thwarted by pro-abortion groups who have lobbied against any change on the basis that recognition of the life of the foetus might water down a mother’s right to abortion, particularly late term abortion.
A bill has now been introduced to NSW Parliament which will give greater recognition to the foetus by adding an additional 3 years to the maximum sentence to two offences where he foetus dies and is either 20 weeks or more or weighs in excess of 400gms.
Does this go far enough to recognise the life of the foetus?
