Maternal Filicide: Understanding the Phenomenon and Its Consequences

Maternal filicide, the act of a mother killing her child, is a shocking and disturbing phenomenon that has been present throughout history, dating back to at least 2000 B.C.E. and the ancient Chaldean civilization. This act goes against the natural course of life, violating the maternal instinct to safeguard the survival of her young.

A high-profile case that brought attention to this issue was Andrea Yates, who drowned her five children in 2001. The Yates case not only sparked public outrage but also shed light on postpartum psychosis and the intersection of maternal mental illness and the criminal justice system.

A Comprehensive Resource on Maternal Mental Health Forensics

This book, co-edited by George Parnham, the attorney who successfully defended Andrea Yates, provides a comprehensive understanding of maternal mental health forensics. With contributions from over 30 experts in the field from eight countries, this collection offers a thorough examination of the necessary competency areas for those involved in maternal mental health forensics, including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and lawyers.

Four Foundations of Maternal Mental Health Forensics

• The legal aspects surrounding maternal infanticide and filicide
• The impact of perinatal psychiatric complications in maternal filicide
• The role of the expert witness in infanticide and filicide cases
• Sociocultural considerations and feminist approaches to prevention and treatment

Each chapter concludes with a summary of main clinical, legal, and cultural points, as well as practice questions and discussion prompts. A glossary at the end of the book provides key terms and concepts, making it an invaluable resource for those involved in maternal infanticide and filicide cases, either on the defense or prosecution, or those interested in the field.

Illuminating the Consequences of Untreated Perinatal Mental Illness

This book highlights the consequences of untreated or poorly treated perinatal mental illness, further establishing maternal mental health forensics as a subspecialty field in its own right. By acknowledging differences in opinion, theory, and conceptualizations, this book serves as an important step toward canonizing the field of maternal mental health forensics and continued understanding beyond filicide and infanticide, including child custody disputes, other homicide cases, assault charges, criminal negligence causing bodily harm, and other offenses in which maternal mental disturbance may have played a key role.

With its comprehensive approach and practical applications, this book is an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand the complex and multifaceted issue of maternal filicide and its consequences.