Greater Dangers to Pregnancy Than Smoking, Says Minister
Minister of Justice Hanno Pevkur said a new bill that would make it illegal for pregnant women to engage in behaviors they know to be damaging to the fetus, does not necessarily include smoking.
As Eesti Päevaleht reported on Wednesday, a person can be held accountable for killing a human fetus, according to current law, but if the new bill is passed, women can also be charged for actions that they knew to be damaging to the fetus.
"The update of the Penal Code proposes that knowingly damaging the fetus by taking drugs or strong medicine will be the considered the same as causing yourself bodily harm,“ Pevkur said.
"Or if actions result in a disability that only surfaces at birth, and the mother knew that she was damaging the fetus, then that will also be punishable,“ the minister said, adding that that does not mean smoking a few cigarettes will result in criminal prosecution.