cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/6666536

(CNN) — An Ohio woman who had sought treatment at a hospital before suffering a miscarriage and passing her nonviable fetus in her bathroom now faces a criminal charge, her attorney told CNN.

Brittany Watts, 33, of Warren, has been charged with felony abuse of a corpse, Trumbull County court records show.

“Ms. Watts suffered a tragic and dangerous miscarriage that jeopardized her own life. Rather than focusing on healing physically and emotionally, she was arrested and charged with a felony,” her attorney, Traci Timko, told CNN in an email.

“Ms. Watts’ case is pending before the Trumbull County Grand Jury. I have advised her not to speak publicly until the criminal matter has resolved.”

Though a coroner’s office report said the fetus was not viable and had died in the womb, Watts’ case highlights the extent to which prosecutors can charge a woman whose pregnancy has ended – whether by abortion or miscarriage.

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  • otp@sh.itjust.works
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    9 months ago

    This is messed up.

    Assuming the woman pictured is the woman being charged…just goes to show that these laws were invented to target minorities.

    • MagicShel@programming.dev
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      9 months ago

      No law ever written targets blonde cheerleaders named Amber or Megyn. If you look at convictions and sentencing, it’s clear that prosecutors and judges get it.

  • shalafi@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    She could have had a legal abortion.

    She walked away from medical advice. TWICE.

    Y’all even read the article? It’s a strange case with some unanswered questions, but this doesn’t appear to be an abortion thing.

    Betting she freaked out, couldn’t handle it mentally, handled it badly thereafter. In any case, not a case for prosecution.

    • girlfreddy@lemmy.ca
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      9 months ago

      I take it you ignored these parts of the article …

      Though a coroner’s office report said the fetus was not viable and had died in the womb

      Watts returned on September 20 expecting to be induced to deliver her preterm pregnancy, according to The Washington Post. But for hours doctors and officials mulled the ethics of inducing labor for a woman who had been diagnosed with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), had no detectable amniotic fluid, was bleeding vaginally and had advanced cervical dilation, the Post reported. Watts eventually left.