[Malformed child following failed termination of pregnancy]

Reported in this paper are findings recorded from a male infant who died eight days from birth, after an attempt of pregnancy termination had failed earlier. Included in these findings were malformation of the vertebral column and bony thorax as well as dorsal meningomyelocele. Intra-uterine manipulation in early pregnancy does not necessarily lead to injury of the foetus and to abortion. Hence, intra-uterine foetal damage should be ruled out by methods of prenatal diagnosis in all cases of continued pregnancy.