<p>
	The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment on whether a pregnant woman committed &quot;a crime of violence&quot; against her child when she drank a &quot;grossly excessive&quot; amount of alcohol while pregnant.</p>
<p>
	Lawyers for child &quot;CP&quot;, who cannot be named for legal reasons, asked three judges to rule in a test case that the girl, now aged seven, is entitled to compensation after being born with an alcohol-related disorder.</p>
<p>
	If the appeal succeeds, it could pave the way for pregnant women&#39;s behaviour to be criminalised, according to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (bpas) and Birthrights,</p>
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	After a day-long hearing Lord Dyson, the Master of the Rolls, sitting with Lord Justice Treacy and Lady Justice King, said the court would take time to consider its decision.</p>
<p>
	The judges were told that the mother was drinking &quot;an enormous amount&quot; while pregnant with CP, including a half-bottle of vodka and eight cans of strong lager a day.</p>
<p>
	John Foy QC, appearing for CP, said that was the equivalent of 40-57 units of alcohol a day. Guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) were that 7.5 units might damage a foetus.</p>
<p>
	Mr Foy was representing a council in the North West of England which now has responsibility for CP and is fighting for an award on her behalf under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.</p>
<p>
	He said the mother &quot;was aware of the dangers to her baby of her excessive consumption during pregnancy&quot;.</p>
<p>
	He added: &quot;She was reckless as to whether there would be harm to the foetus. She foresaw that harm might be caused but went on to take the risk.&quot;</p>
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	Ben Collins, appearing for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), asked the court to reject CP&#39;s legal challenge.</p>
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	He told the judges: &quot;There is a conflict of ideas about what is or is not dangerous, not only in terms of drink but also in terms of smoking and food.&quot;</p>
<p>
	Mr Collins asked whether &quot;a pregnant mother who eats unpasteurised cheese or a soft boiled egg knowing there is a risk that it could give rise to a risk of harm to the foetus&quot; might also find herself accused of a crime.</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/court-reserves-judgment-on-whether-woman-committed-crime-against-her-child-when-she-drank-excessively-while-pregnant-30721710.html">http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/court-reserves-judgment-on-whether-woman-committed-crime-against-her-child-when-she-drank-excessively-while-pregnant-30721710.html</a></p>
