Final answer:
A person who intentionally harms another by cutting or mutilating them may be guilty of an offense like mayhem or grievous bodily harm, depending on the jurisdiction. Historically, punishment could be as severe as capital punishment, and today such acts are considered felonies in many legal systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
One who deprives a person of a member of his body, disables, disfigures, or cuts another, may be guilty of a range of offenses, but it commonly falls under the category of mayhem or grievous bodily harm (GBH). In historical contexts, the laws have varied substantially with some prescribing like-for-like retribution (lex talionis) such as in the Code of Hammurabi, which mandates an eye for an eye or a hand for a hand. In modern legal systems, such acts would be classified as serious assault and would be treated as a felony, often resulting in severe legal consequences. The intent behind the action, the severity of the injury, and whether consent was involved, can all impact the nature of the charge and the severity of the punishment.
In ancient Roman law, as evidenced by the sources from LibreTexts, mutilation and castration were considered severe crimes, often punishable by capital punishment or heavy fines. Under the Cornelian Law, even those absent would be sentenced for such acts. Additionally, such invasive actions against another's body without consent can infringe on the rights to personal security and bodily autonomy, and are thus criminally prosecuted.