Fetal protection legislation in the United States refers to laws designed to grant recognition as a "legal person" to a fetus. Such legislation is controversial because of the debate over abortion rights in the US.

For example, kicking a pregnant woman in the stomach, so that she has a miscarriage, would become a special category of crime.

Laws against certain types of abortion procedures would also seem to fall into this category.

See also

• partial-birth abortion, Melissa Ann Rowland