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Focus on children murdered by parents in Italy: A sad reality

  • PIETRO FERRARA1,2
  • MASSIMO PETTOELLO-MANTOVANI3
  • FRANCESCO CAVALERI2
  • ROBERTA AUTUORI2
  • ANNAMARIA SBORDONE2
  • MARIA AMATO2
  • IDA GIARDINO4
  • FRANCESCA IANNIELLO1
  • VALERIA SANNICANDRO1
  • ANTONIO CHIARETTI1
  • ANTONIO RUGGIERO1
  • ALBERTO VERROTTI4

1Institute of Pediatrics, Catholic University Medical School, Rome, Italy

2 Service of Pediatrics, Campus Bio-Medico University Medical School, Rome, Italy

3 Institute of Pediatrics, University of Foggia, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico “Casa Sollievo”, Foggia, Italy

4 Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy

5 Department of Pediatrics, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy

DOI: 10.22514/SV141.052018.8 Vol.14,Issue 1,March 2018 pp.49-52

Published: 27 March 2018

*Corresponding Author(s): PIETRO FERRARA E-mail: pietro.ferrara@unicatt.it

Abstract

With a documented history of over a cen-tury, it is noted that child murders, perpe-trated by their own parents, are an inter-esting and dramatic phenomenon in the Italian territory. There are three forms of child homicides: neonaticide, infanticide and filicide.

Thanks to several legal reports and studies, it is possible to draw the profile of the typi-cal murderer: usually a young, Northern Italian woman, unemployed, in a conflict-ing relationship and suffering from psy-chiatric disorders. In most cases, the crime takes place at home. No particular method for committing the murder is preferred, but the death of the child can be due to dif-ferent causes.

Precautionary measures should be taken: parents should never be left alone facing health or psychiat-ric problems, families should be helped and supported during difficult times, women should be well-in-formed and aware of their rights.

Keywords

forensic science, neonaticide, in-fanticide, filicide, childhood, rights

Cite and Share

PIETRO FERRARA,MASSIMO PETTOELLO-MANTOVANI,FRANCESCO CAVALERI,ROBERTA AUTUORI,ANNAMARIA SBORDONE,MARIA AMATO,IDA GIARDINO,FRANCESCA IANNIELLO,VALERIA SANNICANDRO,ANTONIO CHIARETTI,ANTONIO RUGGIERO,ALBERTO VERROTTI. Focus on children murdered by parents in Italy: A sad reality. Signa Vitae. 2018. 14(1);49-52.

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