Fetal Suicide

To the Editor:—  As I was passing a newsstand recently, I noticed a headline in a newspaper of sorts which appeared to report a new phenomenon, "Unborn Baby Commits Suicide." Investigation of this story revealed that the 7-month fetus had two sharp teeth, and the attending physician concluded that the fetus had bitten through its own umbilical cord. The umbilical cord showed marks of the baby's teeth.Of course, little credence should be placed in this story. However, the possibility of such an occurrence raises interesting questions in the taxonomy of suicidal behavior. Kurt Goldstein was of the opinion that, for a suicidal act to be so labelled, the individual had to be conscious of the results of his intended actions and his intent to kill himself.¹ Clearly, Goldstein would not label self-destruction by a fetus (or any organism that was not aware of its intent and the implications