Congenital Definition:

Existing at birth.

In relation to a medical condition or mental disorder.

According to Stedman's Medical Dictionary, congenital is defined as follows:

"Existing at birth, referring to certain mental or physical traits, anomalies, malformations, diseases, etc. which may be either hereditary or due to an influence occurring during gestation up to the moment of birth."

An example of a congenital condition is mental retardation.

REFERENCES:

  • Duhaime, Lloyd, Duhaime's Legal Dictionary
  • Pugh, Maureen, (ed.), Stedman's Medical Dictionary, 27th Ed. (Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000), page 398

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