You are discussing this in relation to abortion.
The
Unborn Victims of Violence Act (Public Law 108-212) recognizes a "child in utero" as a legal victim, if he or she is injured or killed during the commission of any of over 60 listed federal crimes of violence. The law defines "child in utero" as "a member of the species Homo sapiens, at any stage of development, who is carried in the womb".
[8] It applies only to certain offenses over which the
United States government has jurisdiction, including certain crimes committed on
federal properties, against certain federal officials and employees, and by members of the military, as well as certain crimes (including some acts of
terrorism) which count as
federal offenses even if outside the United States.
The act explicitly provides that it may not "be construed to permit the prosecution" of any person in relation to consensual abortion, medical treatment of a mother or her fetus, or any woman with regard to her own fetus. It passed into law on April 1, 2004 and is
codified under two sections of the
United States Code: Title 18, Chapter 1 (Crimes), §1841 (18 USC 1841), and the
Uniform Code of Military Justice: Title 10, Chapter 22 §919a (Article 119a)