§ 14-18.2. Injury to pregnant woman. - North Carolina Statutes

§14‑18.2.  Injury to pregnant woman.

(a)        Definitions. – Thefollowing definitions shall apply in this section:

(1)        Miscarriage. – Theinterruption of the normal development of the fetus, other than by a livebirth, and which is not an induced abortion permitted under G.S. 14‑45.1,resulting in the complete expulsion or extraction from a pregnant woman of thefetus.

(2)        Stillbirth. – Thedeath of a fetus prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from a womanirrespective of the duration of pregnancy and which is not an induced abortionpermitted under G.S. 14‑45.1.

(b)        A person who in thecommission of a felony causes injury to a woman, knowing the woman to bepregnant, which injury results in a miscarriage or stillbirth by the woman isguilty of a felony that is one class higher than the felony committed.

(c)        A person who in thecommission of a misdemeanor that is an act of domestic violence as defined inChapter 50B of the General Statutes causes injury to a woman, knowing the womanto be pregnant, which results in miscarriage or stillbirth by the woman isguilty of a misdemeanor that is one class higher than the misdemeanorcommitted. If the offense was a Class A1 misdemeanor, the defendant is guiltyof a Class I felony.

(d)        This section shallnot apply to acts committed by a pregnant woman which result in a miscarriageor stillbirth by the woman. (1998‑212, s.17.16(b).)