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Bill C-445

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1st Session, 37th Parliament,
49-50-51 Elizabeth II, 2001-2002

House of Commons of Canada

BILL C-445

An Act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of child before birth)

Preamble

Whereas the Preamble to the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, adopted by the United Nations in 1959, provides:

    Whereas the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth;

Whereas certain substances, if they are consumed by the mother during her pregnancy, can damage the growth and development of the foetus, so that the health of the child is significantly injured;

Whereas the legal protection of the health of children before they are born necessarily affects the rights and freedoms of mothers;

And Whereas it is the intention of this Act to provide legal protection for the health of children before they are born, while affecting the rights and freedoms of mothers only to the extent necessary for that purpose;

R.S., c. C-46

Now, Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

1. The Criminal Code is amended by adding the following after section 218:

Definition of ``child''

218.1 (1) In this section, ``child'' includes every foetus that its mother does not have a fixed intention to abort.

Consumption of injurious substance

(2) Every person who is pregnant and knowingly consumes a substance that injures or is likely to injure the health of a child she is carrying is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to confinement in a hospital or other suitable treatment facility that is ordered by the court until such time as two physicians certify that she may be released because she is no longer consuming the substance or the pregnancy ends, whichever is the earlier.

Report to physician

(3) A person who is pregnant and who is released under subsection (2) shall report to her physician weekly until the pregnancy ends, in order for the physician to determine whether the person is continuing to refrain from consuming the substance.

Reconfinemen t

(4) Where the person's physician advises the court that the person has resumed the consumption of the substance, the court may order the person to be reconfined to a hospital or other suitable treatment facility until the pregnancy ends, or may make such other order as the court considers necessary to protect the growth, development and health of the child.