The sex-specific doctrine of infanticide provides a merciful method of dealing with women who kill their newborn children in circumstances of psychological distress. This article examines the contentious medical rationale which underpins infanticide legislation with the purpose of providing a substantiated argument for the abolition of this antiquated doctrine. Specifically, a two-pronged approach is taken. First, by utilising the views of contemporary medical science, the scientific credibility of the medical rationale is scrutinised. Second, by drawing upon feminist legal theory, a myriad of concerns associated with the medicalisation of female offenders are critically discussed. Ultimately, it is suggested that the offence/defence of infanticide should be abolished and that crimes of this nature should be readily subsumed under the current partial defence of diminished responsibility.

特定性别的杀婴学说提供了一种仁慈的方法来处理在心理困扰的情况下杀死新生儿的妇女。本文考察了支持杀婴立法的有争议的医学理由，目的是为废除这一过时的学说提供一个有根据的论据。具体而言，采取两管齐下的方法。首先，运用当代医学的观点，审查医学理论的科学可信度。其次，通过借鉴女权主义法律理论，批判性地讨论了与女性罪犯医疗化相关的无数问题。最终，