In a deeply distressing case in Ohio, a woman named Brittany Watts is facing felony charges for the abuse of a corpse after experiencing a devastating miscarriage. The incident has ignited a heated debate over the criminalization of pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriages.
Watts had been 21 weeks and 5 days pregnant when she received the devastating news that her fetus would not survive. Tremendously heartbroken and distraught, she was urged to undergo a procedure that resembles an abortion. However, instead of receiving the necessary medical care, Watts ultimately miscarried in her bathroom after days of anguish.
In Ohio, abortions are legal until the point of fetal viability, which is generally considered to be around 22 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. Watts' case has shed light on the extent to which prosecutors can charge women in situations where their pregnancies have ended, be it through abortion or miscarriage.
The events leading up to Watts' arrest were revealed through texts she sent to a local television station, as well as through a coroner's report and a 911 call. It was reported that Watts had visited St. Joseph Hospital on multiple occasions, where medical staff informed her that her water had broken and that her fetus would not survive. Initially declining medical care, Watts later returned to the hospital with the intention of giving birth.
According to a report, doctors and officials deliberated for eight hours on whether inducing labor would violate Ohio's abortion laws. Eventually, Watts went home, and two days later, she miscarried in her toilet. She subsequently returned to the hospital, where hospital staff called the police. Investigators later found the fetus still in the toilet at Watts' home.
Watts now faces a felony charge of abuse of a corpse. While the coroner's report indicated that the fetus died in utero, Watts' attorney argues that there is no law in Ohio that requires a mother to bury or cremate the remains of a miscarriage. Some experts and activists also emphasize that the criminal charge against Watts is absurd and that it perpetuates a misunderstanding of miscarriage, as well as the emotional and psychological reactions that accompany it.
Amidst growing concerns, Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights, an abortion rights group, is urging prosecutors to drop the case. They highlight the potentially stigmatizing effect it could have on both abortion and pregnancy, particularly in communities of color. The case is currently with a grand jury, and the outcome will be eagerly anticipated by those advocating for a more compassionate and understanding approach to pregnancy outcomes.
As this challenging situation continues to unfold, it underscores the importance of comprehensive discussions surrounding reproductive rights, miscarriage support, and the need for sensitivity in addressing traumatic experiences such as these.
