WAR ON WOMEN: Tennessee Arrests First Mother Under Its New Pregnancy Criminalization Law

[pnwmom]

162. The problem is that the law itself won't help. It will just make things worse.

I completely agree that we should be offering more support to these families, both mothers and fathers, in getting them off drugs -- both during pregnancy and beyond.

But this law is wrong, and it's being misapplied. For one thing, it was written specifically about narcotics. Meth is not a narcotic. Actually, there is more research out there about the harm to fetuses from cigarettes than there is related to meth. Is the law going to be extended to every woman who smokes or drinks alcohol? If the prosecutor can ignore the plain fact that it is directed only at narcotics, where does he stop? What else can he arrest women for?

How did they get this admission from the woman that she had used meth? Was it part of her medical history, taken by a doctor? Did he administer the Miranda? Isn't this going to encourage women who've used drugs to lie to their doctors? To get abortions rather than face the doctor-police? Isn't it going to encourage women to give birth at home without a doctor-cop in attendance?

No one's suggesting that we should pat women on the head and tell them this isn't their fault. That's incredibly patronizing. But many of us are suggesting that this is a stupid, wrong-headed law that will have bad consequences, both for women and their babies.