Why isn’t the four-year sentence for a miscarriage a bigger story?

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand why this isn’t blowing up in the news. A woman is sentenced to four years in jail for a 15-17 week miscarriage in Oklahoma. This is so frightening and appalling. I’m not even a huge pro-choice proponent. I’m a “safe, legal, and rare” dinosaur that no party wants to hear from any more. But this is horrific and I don’t understand why there isn’t a huge legal fund and support and Supreme Court case for this woman. This is not okay.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/10/21/oklahoma-woman-convicted-of-manslaughter-miscarriage/6104281001/

[Anonymous]

Reading that article, there are a couple legal issues that jump out at me. They seem to be overstating the intent and cause involved in felony murder and misdemeanor murder. I also would like to know more about jurisdiction, which is a big issue in Oklahoma right now.

[Anonymous]

This should terrify women (and all decent humans). Anyone who's ever been pregnant is already aware of the ridiculous judgment and expectation lobbed at pregnant women. This is extremely dangerous territory that could see tons of women in texas and other places run by extremists in jail for all kinds of benign garbage. This woman made some godawful choices, but 4 years in prison should scare the hell out of all of you.

[Anonymous]

I understand that drug addiction is an illness but I really don't feel bad for this woman. Maybe she can get clean in jail. My aunt was a NICU nurse and worked with too many inconsolable babies who were suffering, screaming and shaking from the symptoms of drug withdrawal. Her stories about these babies whom almost never had visitors and would often end up in foster care was heartbreaking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This should terrify women (and all decent humans). Anyone who's ever been pregnant is already aware of the ridiculous judgment and expectation lobbed at pregnant women. This is extremely dangerous territory that could see tons of women in texas and other places run by extremists in jail for all kinds of benign garbage. This woman made some godawful choices, but 4 years in prison should scare the hell out of all of you.

Comparing meth to skipping prenatals is not going to convince anyone. FYI

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand that drug addiction is an illness but I really don't feel bad for this woman. Maybe she can get clean in jail. My aunt was a NICU nurse and worked with too many inconsolable babies who were suffering, screaming and shaking from the symptoms of drug withdrawal. Her stories about these babies whom almost never had visitors and would often end up in foster care was heartbreaking.

A baby on my floor when I gave birth was going through opiate withdrawals. I knew because of the newborn’s piercing high pitched screams of agony. It was gutting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This should terrify women (and all decent humans). Anyone who's ever been pregnant is already aware of the ridiculous judgment and expectation lobbed at pregnant women. This is extremely dangerous territory that could see tons of women in texas and other places run by extremists in jail for all kinds of benign garbage. This woman made some godawful choices, but 4 years in prison should scare the hell out of all of you.

Comparing meth to skipping prenatals is not going to convince anyone. FYI

I’m old enough now to see the “slippery slope” arguments come into reality. This is frightening. Women should be scared.

[Anonymous]

They should charge her for the drugs, not miscarriage. That is horrible. And, get her treatment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m just glad that poor kid never had to be born to such a loser mom. At least she won’t be having another drug addicted baby for the next four years.

100% this

1) A lot of amazing people have been born to “loser moms”. 2) There’s no evidence that her drug use caused the miscarriage. 3) Miscarriages happen for so many different reasons. It’s horrifying to think that any m/c could be considered the fault of the woman involved. It’s more especially horrifying given that an intentional abortion would have been legal. This is terrifying territory. We should all be concerned about what this means for women moving forward. I think this is even worse and more meaningful than the new TX law.

Its sad because wealthy "moms" do all kinds of drugs/medications as well and no one would think twice of charging them.

[Anonymous]

Why? Because she is brown and poor, and has a history of drug addiction. If she were white the other two would be reason for compassion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should charge her for the drugs, not miscarriage. That is horrible. And, get her treatment.

They did. That's what misdemeanor murder means.

[Anonymous]

Women should be worried about this, but for some reason they aren't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that drug addiction is an illness but I really don't feel bad for this woman. Maybe she can get clean in jail. My aunt was a NICU nurse and worked with too many inconsolable babies who were suffering, screaming and shaking from the symptoms of drug withdrawal. Her stories about these babies whom almost never had visitors and would often end up in foster care was heartbreaking.

A baby on my floor when I gave birth was going through opiate withdrawals. I knew because of the newborn’s piercing high pitched screams of agony. It was gutting.

You know what’s cheaper than four years in jail? Nine months of drug treatment. There are better ways to treat pregnant drug addicts than jailing them after they have a miscarriage.

[Anonymous]

It's completely awful because as an addict, and therefore suffering from a MENTAL ILLNESS, she has limited control over her impulses and has limited responsibility.

Such a person should not be charged with murder. She should be treated with compassion as a VICTIM and treated.

I am flabbergasted at the judgement directed towards this person. It's like we're in back in the middle ages and science has not advanced at all.

[Anonymous]

PUNISHING DRUG ADDICTS DOES NOT CURE THEM.

TREATING THEM GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO MANAGE THEIR LIVES AND GET BETTER.

When are we finally, as a society, going to stop punishing sick people and victims?

It's horrific. Remember the first mental hospitals that looked like torture chambers? This is the same thing.