A KILLING OF BABY DOE

An anencephalic infant died in the Neonatal Intensive Care unit six ho urs after birth. Eighteen months later, in a discussion of intrusive f ederal ''Baby Doe'' regulations with co-workers at the hospital, a reg istered nurse mentioned that he had found a way to avoid these provisi ons, and that he had in fact done so on one occasion by killing this p articular infant. A co-worker related his story to police, and the ''w heels of justice'' were set into motion. I describe the chronology of events and the pathologic findings in this case of infanticide, purpor tedly committed ''with mercy-aforethought.''