Tough question?

Question

If a woman knowingly exposes her fetus to drugs/alcohol/any harmful substances, should she be prosecuted in the criminal justice system?

This is an issue actually being considered right now. These substances can cause physical harm, birth defects, and addiction in the baby when it is born. I just wanted to see everyone's opinions.

Answer 1

I think it's horrid. I think her tubes should be tied legitimately and permanently when a woman does something like that don't you?

She has no right to bear a child while being such a tramp and abuser like that. People have no idea the suffering a baby goes through and they are born addicted and suffer health problems their whole life long.

I think if they are heavy substance abusers (whether it's legal or not!!) they should forfeit their right to bear children altogether.

What's more cruel, my opinion or a baby born an addict or worse?

These people who would support these women's rights don't realize these are addicts, very serious abusers, crack, heroine, etc. and they cannot "come clean". They are usually prostitutes and couldn't really even care less what happens to the baby, often it's left to be adopted and cared for by others, and the mother continues on and just repeats the same thing again.

STOP CHILD ABUSE BEFORE IT STARTS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik-uF7niueg&mode=related&search=

Answer 2

In my opinion yes, but I dont see how the "pro-choicers" coudl even consider that a criminal act considering she is just poisoning a lump of cells similar to a cancerous tumor

Answer 3

It depends on what right you want to attach to the fetus and what right you want to vest in the woman.

If the issue is alcohol, do you want to forbid all pregnant women from drinking when there is notable evidence that a single glass or wine does no harm? Do you want to extend the ban to women that are pregnant or might reasonably become pregnant? In which case, fertile sexually active women would be banned from drinking. Do you want to ban drinking by all fertile women for fear that it might lead to sexual activity?

Is the issue illegal substances? We already have punishments for cocaine and methamphetamine. Why create “special” circumstances for pregnant women? Why can’t the punishment for the crime encompass the net goal of social reform for all people? Do we need to carve out a special circumstance for the pregnant? Is not the “evil” of the illegal drugs societal and already encompassing the effects on children and the unborn?

And why punish women more than men? Would it not make sense that if you are a man and sexually active you should refrain from conduct that might promote birth defects? We have laws related to illegal conduct in the presence of children. But do we want to extend that to pregnant women? If you are in a bar and the woman next to you is two months pregnant, should it become a crime if you offer to buy her a drink? Why would it be acceptable to buy her a drink, but a crime for her to accept the drink?

As for the fetus, at what point do you want to instill rights in a fetus that supersede the rights of the mother? Even if you vest in the fetus the rights of an individual, at what point do the rights of the fetus trump the rights of the mother? At what point do you want the rights of any one person to supersede the rights of another?

A percentage of our population has O negative blood, which can be used by anyone. This is the “best blood to donate.” If all people that had O negative blood were forced to donate blood twice a year, we would not have a blood shortage. Everyone would benefit except for the minor inconvenience of a few hours a year from those that had O negative blood. Do we want to subject the rights of one person for the benefit of another? Do we want to force blood donation?

If you needed a bone marrow transplant, and you found a perfect match, should the government force the donation? This match could donate a small amount of bone marrow and save your life. Should you have the right to force that person to undergo a painful, yet safe operation to extract a small amount of bone marrow so that you might live?

A fetus is in many ways a parasite. Should the government force a woman to host another living being for nine months? Should the government force the care and nurturing of one person by another?

Children are wonderful. They are our future. I cannot pretend to make any rules for others. I can only try my best to look at each situation on a case by case basis and make a judgment call for myself. I would hope that my judgment as applied to my life would be respected by others. I would hope that I would do my best to allow others to make rational and informed choices for themselves. I may disagree with others, but do I really want to impose on them my will? Tell them where to live? What jobs to have? What books to read? If I am so much smarter than them that I am vested with the power to make such a major life and death choice as whether to keep or abort a child / fetus, then surely something as simple as what TV shows and news to watch is something that I should also decide.

But the decisions on “pro-choice” and “pro-life” are complex and without clear answers. Unfortunately extremism on both sides corrupts the dialogue.

I can look at the woman that is diabetic and carrying an hydroencephalitic fetus that is not likely to survive thirty days from birth, much less be carried to term, and ask, should she be forced carry such a child? The answer is no. But then again, should she be forced to abort in light of the serious risk to her own health and essentially zero chance that the child she carries will see its first birthday? No. I would neither force the child from her, nor force her to carry the child. If she is competent to make her own choice, I must allow her the freedom to do so.

I can also look at the woman that is six months pregnant and just found out that her fiancé, the father of the child, is cheating on her. In light of his infidelity she has decided to abort his child. Do I think she is making the right choice? No. Do I think I should be able to impose my individual will to supersede hers? No.

Many intelligent people have come together with guidelines that generally come down along the times of viability. At what point does the fetus become viable? Often this is abbreviated to the first two terms verses the last term. Do I think this is a rational and fair line? Yes. A woman should have the right to choose, but at the same time, she should also make the choice in a timely manner.

But that does not really address the issue of whether knowingly exposing a fetus to drugs/alcohol/any harmful substances, should be prosecuted in the criminal justice system.

In answer to that, I think the proper answer is that any prosecution for abuse of substances should include the inherent societal harm to children and the unborn. Women and pregnant women should not be treated differently. But maybe we need to better understand the harm such things cause.

Answer 4

Depends on the substance and the level of the substance abuse.
if you are talking about legal substances no. however if you are talking about illegal substances yes. All that has to be proven is she knew she was pregnant and knew she was taking a illegal substance.

Answer 5

if she knows its wrong and understands the laws then she should be held liable for the crimes that she is committing on a child that cannot protect its self.. the mothers job is to protect, nuture, teach, and love their children...

Answer 6

It could be hard to prove that the woman knew she was pregnant. Unless there are friends or family that are willing to testify that she knew.

Answer 7

yes,she is a criminal

Answer 8

I think so. It is ruining another person's health and life.

Answer 9

YES-- pregency should be terminated and the mother jailed...

Answer 10

yes she should