A woman in the United States has been charged with abuse of a corpse after experiencing a miscarriage at 21 weeks pregnant.
Brittany Watts, 33, could face a year in prison or a $3,731 fine in Ohio, where abortion is legal but highly restricted. Her case touches a national rage over the treatment of pregnant women, especially Black women.
Watts began experiencing signs of a “non-viable pregnancy” at 21 weeks and five days when she passed thick blood clots. A day later, she was waiting in urgent care at the cut-off time for legal abortion, which is 21 weeks and six days.
A doctor told her that while the foetal heartbeat was still present, her water had broken prematurely and the foetus wouldn’t survive. If she didn’t have her labour induced (amounting to an abortion to deliver the non-viable foetus), her case records show she would face “significant risk” of death.
Watts waited to be seen by urgent care as hospital officials were deliberating over the legalities of performing an abortion for her. After eight hours and without receiving treatment, she returned home where she miscarried in a toilet.
Police later found Watts’s foetus wedged in the pipes. Testimony and autopsy confirmed that the foetus died in utero before passing through the birth canal and no injuries to the foetus were found.
Nevertheless, Watts was charged with abuse of a corpse – a fifth-degree felony – and last month, her case was sent to a grand jury. Before this, she had no criminal record.
Michele Goodwin, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, and author of “Policing The Womb,” told the Associated Press anti-abortion efforts have long targeted Black and brown women, in particular.
She said that even before Roe v Wade was overturned, studies have shown that Black women who visited hospitals for prenatal care were 10 times more likely than white women to have child protective services and law enforcement called on them.
At the time of Watts’ miscarriage, vigorous campaigning was taking place across Ohio over Issue 1, a proposed amendment to enshrine a right to abortion in Ohio’s constitution.
The governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine signed a law in April 2019 prohibiting abortion in the state after the first 21 weeks and six days.
Miscarriage is common
Miscarriage is very common, according to US-based non-profit March for Dimes. Some research suggests that more than 30 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage, and many end before a person even knows they’re pregnant.
Here in Australia, research has shown that around 300 people experience miscarriage everyday, and one in four pregnancies end in loss.
Australia’s leading national mental health organisation, Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA) says one in five new mums and one in ten new dads are affected by perinatal depression and anxiety following a miscarriage.
If you or someone you love needs support:
– PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday) or panda.org.au
– Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au