The aim of this study has been to analyse the ways Mexican states articulates the actions of women undergoing an abortion and the effects it has on criminal sanctions specified for women. This study analyses the criminal code of Mexico City which decriminalised abortion in 2007, the criminal code of Jalisco reformed in 2009 and the criminal code of Yucatán reformed in 2009. The discrimination of women had been the major concern of International Human Rights Law as well as feminist jurisprudence. This research has attempted to problematise and highlight different aspects of discrimination taking place in Mexican law. Feminist liberal theory and radical feminism had been placed to analyse the criminal codes governing Mexican abortion law. Thus, in this thesis, the problems of women to access legal abortion had been discussed as a problem of discrimination based on sex. Therefore, this study does not touch upon tensions between the foetus and the mother but the conflict that emerges in the ways the law thinks of women.

Cette thèse analyse l’évolution des imaginaires de la grossesse depuis 40 ans ainsi que certaines de ses incidences sociales.La science embryologiste avait installé depuis le 19ième siècle une tradition de représentation réaliste du foetus humain. Au cours de la 2ième moitié du 20ième, les choses semblent changer. En 1970, les photos de Lennart Nilsson notamment ont coloré, autonomisé, esthétisé et humanisé le foetus. En France, le ‟foetus anatomique” s’est vu par ailleurs retiré des muséums, son image s’absente du ‟Larousse médical illustré” et des manuels de sciences naturelles. Quant au foetus présent dans l’art contemporain, il est surdimensionné ou dégoûtant : ce qui ressemble donc le plus à un ‟vrai” foetus se déréalise. L’haptonomie et certaines technologies autour de la grossesse vont accentuer ces modifications de l’image du foetus au profit des imaginaires parentaux.Les effets sociaux de cette idéalisation foetale sont variés. L’humanisation du ‟beau foetus” enlaidissant l’anomalie, la hantise maternelle du ‟monstre foetal” est d’avantage intériorisée et trouble le travail en médecine foetale. Leur refus de l’anomalie devenant plus implicite, médecins et parents adoptent un langage euphémisé. Mais même l’image du foetus avorté s’humanise. Elle devient émouvante. Quand un foetus est condamné, il faudra donc le réparer, concrètement et symboliquement. Les soignants qui invitent les parents à voir le foetus après sa mort vont le présenter comme un bébé dormant, réparé de ses malformations. Certaines mères, surtout quand elles envisagent une nouvelle grossesse, le représentent alors comme un ange, cet ange devenu omniprésent sur les forums Internet.Ce dispositif questionne les sociétés contemporaines : les spécialistes de médecine foetale se retrouvent aujourd’hui confrontés à certains parents refusant la naissance d’un enfant atteint de malformations sans gravité. Au miroir de leur bébé surgit un indicible : l’horreur d’un foetus porteur d’anomalie. L’esthétisation ne rend-elle pas les imaginaires de l’anomalie d’autant plus puissants qu’ils n’ont plus d’espace, autre que le for intérieur, pour se déployer ? / This thesis analyses the evolution of imagination of the pregnancy for forty years as well as some of its social incidences.The science embryologist had installed since the 19 th century a realist tradition of presentation of the human foetus. During half of the 20 th, things seem to change. In 1970, the photographs of Lennart Nilsson in particular coloured, empowered, aestheticized and humanized the foetus. In France, the ‟anatomical foetus” saw itself besides out-of- the way of the museums, its image absent in in the ‟illustrated medical Larousse” and the textbooks of natural sciences. As for the foetus present in the contempory art, it is oversized or disgusting : what looks like mots of ‟real” foetus derealises. The haptonomy and certain technologies around the pregnancy are going to stress these modifications of the image of the foetus for the benefit of parental imagination.The social effects of the foetal idealization are varied. The humanisation of the ‟beautiful foetus” making ugly anomaly, the maternal obsession of the ‟foetal monster” is more interiorized and discorders work in foetal medicine. Their refusal of anomaly becoming more implicit, doctors and parents adopt an euphemized language. But, even the image of the aborted foetus fallen through humanizes. It becomes moving. When a foetus is condemned, it will thus have to be repaired concretely and symbolically. The nursing who invite the relatives to see the foetus after his death will present him as a sleeping baby, repaired by his deformations. Certain mother especially when they envisage a new pregnancy, represent him then as an angel, this angel become omnipresent on the Internet forums.This dispositf questions the contemporary societies : the specialists of foetal medicine are faced with certain parents refusing the birth of a child affected by deformations without gravity. In the miror of their baby appears an unspeakable : the horror of an expanding foetus of anomaly. Does not the esthetisation make the imagination of the anomaly all the more powerful as they do not have more space other than the heart of hearts to spread ?

Cette thèse analyse l’évolution des imaginaires de la grossesse depuis 40 ans ainsi que certaines de ses incidences sociales.La science embryologiste avait installé depuis le 19ième siècle une tradition de représentation réaliste du foetus humain. Au cours de la 2ième moitié du 20ième, les choses semblent changer. En 1970, les photos de Lennart Nilsson notamment ont coloré, autonomisé, esthétisé et humanisé le foetus. En France, le ‟foetus anatomique” s’est vu par ailleurs retiré des muséums, son image s’absente du ‟Larousse médical illustré” et des manuels de sciences naturelles. Quant au foetus présent dans l’art contemporain, il est surdimensionné ou dégoûtant : ce qui ressemble donc le plus à un ‟vrai” foetus se déréalise. L’haptonomie et certaines technologies autour de la grossesse vont accentuer ces modifications de l’image du foetus au profit des imaginaires parentaux.Les effets sociaux de cette idéalisation foetale sont variés. L’humanisation du ‟beau foetus” enlaidissant l’anomalie, la hantise maternelle du ‟monstre foetal” est d’avantage intériorisée et trouble le travail en médecine foetale. Leur refus de l’anomalie devenant plus implicite, médecins et parents adoptent un langage euphémisé. Mais même l’image du foetus avorté s’humanise. Elle devient émouvante. Quand un foetus est condamné, il faudra donc le réparer, concrètement et symboliquement. Les soignants qui invitent les parents à voir le foetus après sa mort vont le présenter comme un bébé dormant, réparé de ses malformations. Certaines mères, surtout quand elles envisagent une nouvelle grossesse, le représentent alors comme un ange, cet ange devenu omniprésent sur les forums Internet.Ce dispositif questionne les sociétés contemporaines : les spécialistes de médecine foetale se retrouvent aujourd’hui confrontés à certains parents refusant la naissance d’un enfant atteint de malformations sans gravité. Au miroir de leur bébé surgit un indicible : l’horreur d’un foetus porteur d’anomalie. L’esthétisation ne rend-elle pas les imaginaires de l’anomalie d’autant plus puissants qu’ils n’ont plus d’espace, autre que le for intérieur, pour se déployer ? / This thesis analyses the evolution of imagination of the pregnancy for forty years as well as some of its social incidences.The science embryologist had installed since the 19 th century a realist tradition of presentation of the human foetus. During half of the 20 th, things seem to change. In 1970, the photographs of Lennart Nilsson in particular coloured, empowered, aestheticized and humanized the foetus. In France, the ‟anatomical foetus” saw itself besides out-of- the way of the museums, its image absent in in the ‟illustrated medical Larousse” and the textbooks of natural sciences. As for the foetus present in the contempory art, it is oversized or disgusting : what looks like mots of ‟real” foetus derealises. The haptonomy and certain technologies around the pregnancy are going to stress these modifications of the image of the foetus for the benefit of parental imagination.The social effects of the foetal idealization are varied. The humanisation of the ‟beautiful foetus” making ugly anomaly, the maternal obsession of the ‟foetal monster” is more interiorized and discorders work in foetal medicine. Their refusal of anomaly becoming more implicit, doctors and parents adopt an euphemized language. But, even the image of the aborted foetus fallen through humanizes. It becomes moving. When a foetus is condemned, it will thus have to be repaired concretely and symbolically. The nursing who invite the relatives to see the foetus after his death will present him as a sleeping baby, repaired by his deformations. Certain mother especially when they envisage a new pregnancy, represent him then as an angel, this angel become omnipresent on the Internet forums.This dispositf questions the contemporary societies : the specialists of foetal medicine are faced with certain parents refusing the birth of a child affected by deformations without gravity. In the miror of their baby appears an unspeakable : the horror of an expanding foetus of anomaly. Does not the esthetisation make the imagination of the anomaly all the more powerful as they do not have more space other than the heart of hearts to spread ?

Cette thèse analyse l’évolution des imaginaires de la grossesse depuis 40 ans ainsi que certaines de ses incidences sociales.La science embryologiste avait installé depuis le 19ième siècle une tradition de représentation réaliste du foetus humain. Au cours de la 2ième moitié du 20ième, les choses semblent changer. En 1970, les photos de Lennart Nilsson notamment ont coloré, autonomisé, esthétisé et humanisé le foetus. En France, le ‟foetus anatomique” s’est vu par ailleurs retiré des muséums, son image s’absente du ‟Larousse médical illustré” et des manuels de sciences naturelles. Quant au foetus présent dans l’art contemporain, il est surdimensionné ou dégoûtant : ce qui ressemble donc le plus à un ‟vrai” foetus se déréalise. L’haptonomie et certaines technologies autour de la grossesse vont accentuer ces modifications de l’image du foetus au profit des imaginaires parentaux.Les effets sociaux de cette idéalisation foetale sont variés. L’humanisation du ‟beau foetus” enlaidissant l’anomalie, la hantise maternelle du ‟monstre foetal” est d’avantage intériorisée et trouble le travail en médecine foetale. Leur refus de l’anomalie devenant plus implicite, médecins et parents adoptent un langage euphémisé. Mais même l’image du foetus avorté s’humanise. Elle devient émouvante. Quand un foetus est condamné, il faudra donc le réparer, concrètement et symboliquement. Les soignants qui invitent les parents à voir le foetus après sa mort vont le présenter comme un bébé dormant, réparé de ses malformations. Certaines mères, surtout quand elles envisagent une nouvelle grossesse, le représentent alors comme un ange, cet ange devenu omniprésent sur les forums Internet.Ce dispositif questionne les sociétés contemporaines : les spécialistes de médecine foetale se retrouvent aujourd’hui confrontés à certains parents refusant la naissance d’un enfant atteint de malformations sans gravité. Au miroir de leur bébé surgit un indicible : l’horreur d’un foetus porteur d’anomalie. L’esthétisation ne rend-elle pas les imaginaires de l’anomalie d’autant plus puissants qu’ils n’ont plus d’espace, autre que le for intérieur, pour se déployer ? / This thesis analyses the evolution of imagination of the pregnancy for forty years as well as some of its social incidences.The science embryologist had installed since the 19 th century a realist tradition of presentation of the human foetus. During half of the 20 th, things seem to change. In 1970, the photographs of Lennart Nilsson in particular coloured, empowered, aestheticized and humanized the foetus. In France, the ‟anatomical foetus” saw itself besides out-of- the way of the museums, its image absent in in the ‟illustrated medical Larousse” and the textbooks of natural sciences. As for the foetus present in the contempory art, it is oversized or disgusting : what looks like mots of ‟real” foetus derealises. The haptonomy and certain technologies around the pregnancy are going to stress these modifications of the image of the foetus for the benefit of parental imagination.The social effects of the foetal idealization are varied. The humanisation of the ‟beautiful foetus” making ugly anomaly, the maternal obsession of the ‟foetal monster” is more interiorized and discorders work in foetal medicine. Their refusal of anomaly becoming more implicit, doctors and parents adopt an euphemized language. But, even the image of the aborted foetus fallen through humanizes. It becomes moving. When a foetus is condemned, it will thus have to be repaired concretely and symbolically. The nursing who invite the relatives to see the foetus after his death will present him as a sleeping baby, repaired by his deformations. Certain mother especially when they envisage a new pregnancy, represent him then as an angel, this angel become omnipresent on the Internet forums.This dispositf questions the contemporary societies : the specialists of foetal medicine are faced with certain parents refusing the birth of a child affected by deformations without gravity. In the miror of their baby appears an unspeakable : the horror of an expanding foetus of anomaly. Does not the esthetisation make the imagination of the anomaly all the more powerful as they do not have more space other than the heart of hearts to spread ?

Les femmes enceintes sont exposées à de nombreux médicaments et les essais cliniques sont difficilement réalisables dans cette population, c'est pourquoi avoir une méthode qui permet d'estimer l'ampleur des modifications de pharmacocinétique chez la femme enceinte et le passage transplacentaire est essentiel. En effet les modifications physiologiques prennent place durant cette période clé. Nous avons développé des modèles pharmacocinétiques basé sur la physiologie (PBPK) et intégré les modifications physiologiques connues survenant durant la grossesse. Ils décrivent bien la pharmacocinétique de 3 antirétroviraux éliminés par le rein, le ténofovir (TFV), l'emtricitabine (FTC) et la lamivudine (3TC) et d'une molécule métabolisée par le CYP3A4, 2D6 et 2B6, la névirapine (NVP) et ceci pour différentes voies d'administration et pour des populations enceintes et non enceintes. De plus les clairances individuelles disponibles pour le TFV, le FTC et le 3TC tout au long de la grossesse ont permis d'explorer l'évolution de la sécrétion rénale. Celle-ci évoluerait proportionnellement au débit plasmatique rénal. L'intégration dans les modèles PBPK, des paramètres estimés à partir de l'expérience ex-vivo de cotylédon humain perfusé, a permis la prédiction de la cinétique foetale en fin de grossesse du TFV, FTC et NVP. Les prédictions ont été validées en les comparants aux concentrations mesurées au sang de cordon à l'accouchement. De plus, pour la névirapine nous avons exploré le métabolisme foetal et en avons conclu que même si celui-ci existe et est proche voir un peu supérieur à celui du nouveau-né, il n'influence pas la cinétique foetale. / Pregnant women are exposed to numerous drugs and for obvious ethical reasons studies in this sensitive population arelimited. Information about the maternal pharmacokinetic (PK) changes and transplacental transfer of drugs prior to theiradministration to pregnant women would be highly useful. Indeed is it known that physiological changes during pregnancycan affect drug disposition. Time-varying pregnancy-related physiological parameters changes were implemented in fullPBPK models. They successfully predicted the disposition of 3 renally excreted drugs tenofovir (TFV), emtricitabine (FTC)and lamivudine (3TC) and one metabolized drug, nevirapine (NVP) for non-pregnant and pregnant populations. We foundthat both renal secretion and filtration changed during pregnancy. Changes in renal clearance secretion were related tochanges in renal plasma flow. Transplacental parameters estimated from ex vivo human placenta perfusion experiments implemented in PBPK models allowed good prediction of foetal TFV, FTC and NVP PK. Predictions were compared to observed cord blood concentrations to validate these models. Moreover, we have explored nevirapine foetal metabolism and concluded that even if the foetal metabolism is the same than the newborn one or a little more important, it is notlikely to impact foetal PK.

Cette thèse de doctorat vise à combler un vide historiographique en proposant une synthèse sur l’avortement en France à l’époque moderne. Pratique interdite, confinée au secret, elle apparaît pourtant dans de nombreuses sources. Il s’agit tout d’abord d’interroger les discours sur l’avortement afin de comprendre les conditions de possibilité d’une telle pratique. L’avortement est, à cette époque, un terme polysémique, employé dans des contextes variés. Dans le champ médical, on s’interroge sur l’animation du fœtus, sa viabilité ; dans le champ juridique, il n’est pas distinct de l’infanticide, mais cette indistinction pose problème aux juristes. Et pour la première fois en 1791, le code pénal en fait un crime spécifique. Ce travail analyse cette évolution en questionnant les différents discours dans des domaines qui s’entrecroisent : médecine, droit, théologie. Cette thèse s’intéresse donc à la criminalisation de l’avortement volontaire mais aussi à la façon dont s’organise sa répression. En effet, l’avortement apparaît dans les archives judiciaires mais toujours associé à d’autres crimes, dans le cadre de procès pour « recel de grossesse et suppression de part », ou encore dans le cadre de l’affaire des Poisons à Paris à la fin du XVIIe siècle. Ce travail interroge les difficultés posées par la répression de l’avortement volontaire, ainsi que les biais engendrés par cette association à d’autres catégories criminelles. Cette étude porte enfin sur les pratiques elles-mêmes et appréhende l’avortement comme un phénomène social. Ce travail privilégie une approche par les acteurs/trices en s’intéressant aux femmes qui avortent et aux relations à leur entourage : mari ou amant, parents, etc. Une attention particulière est également portée à la question du secret, de la rumeur et de la dénonciation dans des communautés villageoises et urbaines, et enfin aux personnes à qui elles s’adressent pour avorter, aux savoirs sur l’avortement, à l’accessibilité de ces savoirs ainsi qu’à leur transmission. / This PhD thesis aims at filling an historiographical void by proposing an overview of abortion in early modern France. Though it is a secret and forbidden pratice, abortion appears in many sources. First, this work questions speeches about abortion in order to understand the conditions that enable its existence. At this time, abortion is a polysemous word that is used in a wide range of contexts. In the medical field the animation or viability of the fœtus generates multiple debates. Abortion is considered as a crime, but not separated from infanticide in the Law, which raises multiple questions. And for the first time in 1791, the penal code considers abortion as a specific crime. This work analyzes this evolution by questioning different speeches held about abortion in different but connected fields : medicine, theology, law. Consequently this thesis analyzes the criminalization of abortion as well as its punishment. As a matter of fact, abortion appears in judicial archives but is always associated with others crimes – in trials for « suppression de part et recel de grossesse », or in the context of the repression of poisoners led by the police in Paris since the end of the XVIIth century. The repression itself presents difficulties that this work analyzes, as well as the bias generated with its connection to other criminal categories. This study finally deals with the practices themselves and examines abortion as a social phenomenon. I mostly consider the actors and actresses of abortion and specifically the women who abort and their relatives (husband or lovers, parents, etc.,). I also pay special attention to secret, rumor and denunciation in the context of urban and rural communities, and finally to the persons women solicit to get an abortion, to knowledge, to access to this knowledge as well as its transmission.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Resumo:O presente estudo investigou a ocorrência de Tritrichomonas foetus em gatos no Brasil. T. foetus é um protozoário que em felinos coloniza o cólon causando colite. O sinal clínico é a diarreia crônica do intestino grosso. Gatos infectados podem apresentar resolução espontânea da diarreia, mas podem permanecer infectados pela vida toda. Existem três métodos diagnósticos mais difundidos que identificam a presença de T. foetus nas fezes do animal, sendo: o exame direto das fezes utilizando o microscópio óptico, a cultura e a PCR. No presente estudo, foram comparados dois métodos diagnósticos, o exame direto das fezes e a PCR. Também foi realizado o sequenciamento genético. Foram colhidas amostras fecais de 129 gatos por meio da técnica de lavado retal. Cada amostra foi examinada ao microscópio óptico. A presença de DNA do T. foetus foi verificada pela PCR através da amplificação de 347 pares de bases a partir dos primers TFR3 e TFR4. Amplicons dos casos positivos foram sequenciados. T. foetus foi observado em uma amostra através do exame diretos das fezes, enquanto que a PCR foi positiva para cinco gatos (6,45%). À análise estatística não houve correlação significativa entre positividade para T. foetus e sexo, idade, raça, presença de diarreia, histórico de diarreia, tratamento prévio, estilo de vida, ambiente, origem dos animais e presença de coinfecções. O isolado de T. foetus mostrou 100% de similaridade com outros isolados do parasito de felino no mundo e revelou polimorfismo num único nucleotídeo (T>C) quando comparado com o isolado de bovino. Devido ao crescente interesse sobre este parasito em gatos, o presente estudo visa contribuir com futuros registros da ocorrência do T. foetus em gatos visto que se trata do primeiro estudo sobre sua ocorrência no Brasil / Abstract:The present study investigated the occurrence of T. foetus in cats from Brazil. T. foetus is a protozoan that in cats it colonizes the colon resulting in colitis. The major clinical sign is chronic large bowel diarrhea. Infected cats may have spontaneous resolution of diarrhea, but they can remain infected for all life. In veterinary medical practice, there are three most widespread diagnostic methods that identify T. foetus in animal feces: direct examination of feces under the microscope, culture and PCR. In the present study, it was compared two diagnosis methods, direct examination of feces and PCR. And also it was done the genetic sequencing. Fecal samples from 129 cats were collected by rectal flush technique. Each sample was examined by optical microscopy (direct examination). The presence of T. foetus DNA was verified using PCR by amplification of 347 bases pairs from the primers TFR3 and TFR4. Amplicons of positive cases were sequenced. T. foetus was observed in one sample by direct microscopic examination of feces while PCR was positive in five cats (6.45%). Statistical analyses showed no significant associations between T. foetus infection and sex, age, breed, presence of diarrhea, history of diarrhea, previous treatment, lifestyle, environment, origin of the animals, and co-infections. The isolate of T. foetus showed 100% identical sequences with other T. foetus isolates from cats around the world and revealed a single nucleotide polymorphism (T>C) when compared with T. foetus isolate from cattle. Due the increasing interest in this parasite in cats, the present study contributes in further reporting the worldwide occurrence of T. foetus in cats because it is the first study about its occurrence in Brazil. / Orientador:Marcelo Vasconcelos Meireles / Banca:Rosangela Zacarias Machado / Banca:Gosele Fabrino Machado / Mestre

Atualmente, grande parte do onhecimento adquirido sobre reprodução de serpentes, advém de estudos levados a efeito na América do Norte e Europa, com animais de regiões temperadas; e, na Austrália, com Elapídeos tropicais. No presente estudo foram utilizadas dez serpentes fêmeas prenhes de Crotalus durissus (Viperidae) de região neotropical, com o objetivo de descrever e correlacionar a morfologia do corpo lúteo, placenta e estágio fetal. Com isso pode-se inferir também, o tempo de prenhez. As técnicas realizadas para essa descrição e correlação foram: biometria macroscópica das fêmeas e suas estruturas; microscopia de luz com coloração de hematoxilina-eosina e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Foram coletados no total 124 corpos lúteos e 116 placentas, onde observou-se que a cascavel possui o corpo lúteo de caráter ovulatório e a placenta do tipo corioalantóica evolvida por uma delgada membrana da casca do ovo. Concluiu-se que o tamanho padrão da superfície dos corpos lúteos para uma prenhez normal é de 18 a 34 mm2 e que há um corpo lúteo para cada ovo, independente se está fertilizado ou atrésico, porém os ovos atrésicos não possuem placenta. Pela primeira vez foi possível visualizar a disposição estrutural dos filamentos calcários em forma de trama na membrana da casca do ovo. Foi inferida uma classificação da placenta em três estágios I, II e III de acordo com a morfologia e aumento das vilosidades apresentadas entre placenta e útero; e a partir da identificação do estágio de desenvolvimento embrionário e fetal pode-se inferir o tempo de prenhez em C. durissus, classificadas em três terços, inicial, médio e final, evidenciando que existe uma correlação entre a evolução dos estágios placentários com desenvolvimento fetal, conforme a evolução gradual da prenhêz / At de present time, great part of snake reproduction knowledge results from researches realized in North America and Europe, with temperate region animals; in Australia with tropical Elapides. At this present research, ten pregnant females of the snake Crotalus durissus (Viperidae), from Neotropical Region, were utilized. The main goal is to correlate the morphology, corpus luteum, placenta and fetal development. Then, it is also easy to deduce the pregnancy time. The techniques performed for this description and correlation were females macroscopic biometry and their structures; light microscopy with hematoxiline-eosine color and electronic scanning microscopy. 124 corpora lutea and 116 placentas were collected. In those samples could be observed that rattlesnakes have an ovulatory corpus luteum and a corioalantoic placenta wrapped by a slender membrane of the eggshell. Clearly the conclusion is that the normal standard size surface corpus luteum for a normal pregnancy is from 18 to 34mm² and that there is a corpus luteum for each egg, independently if it is fertilized or atresic; but, these atresic eggs have not placenta. For the first time it was possible to visualize the structural arrangement of the calcareous filaments in shaped frame in the eggshell membrane. It was inferred a placenta classification in three stages: I, II and III according to the morphology and increased vilosiddes presented among placenta and uterus; and, from the identification of embryonic and fetal development stage we can infer the time pregnancy in C. durissus, classified in three thirds, initial, middle and final, indicating that there is a correlation between the evolution of placental stage with fetal development, as the gradual evolution of pregnancy

The M. A. thesis "The Protection of the Human Foetus" deals, as obvious from its title, with the issue of protection of the human foetus in the Czech legal order for one thing and in selected countries, taking their legal regulations in concern, for another. The text primarily highlights and analyzes the development of legal regulations in today's Czech Republic; special emphasis is put on the criminal law aspect of the whole matter. According to the presented interpretation and exposition of the problem, it is indeed possible to assume that the legal order of the Czech Republic offers sufficient protection to the human foetus. The germinated life and the life and health of the mother are first are foremost protected through the means of criminal law. The M. A. thesis is divided into eight chapters. The first part of the thesis is devoted to the definition of terms dealing with the issue in concern. Due to its importance, the historical development of the researched phenomenon is likewise not omitted. Furthermore, the constitutional and international dimensions of the problem are also explored. Last but not least, the M. A. thesis deals with the criminal law regulations of the Czech Republic, the regulations of intentional ending of a pregnancy and its conditions. The final chapter puts emphasis on...