Lawmaker in State of Georgia Wants to Make Miscarriage a Crime

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A bill introduced last month by a Georgia State Representative would make miscarriage a crime, unless the woman could prove that there was “no human involvement” in the miscarriage.  The bill doesn’t define “human involvement.”

Here’s what WebMD has to say (here) about miscarriage:

According to the March of Dimes, as many as 50% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage — most often before a woman misses a menstrual period or even knows she is pregnant. About 15% of recognized pregnancies will end in a miscarriage.

When does a miscarriage NOT involve a human being — the woman who miscarries?  Would 50% of all pregnant women then be criminals upon miscarriage?

Miscarriage does not always have a simple cause.  Miscarriage may be the result of chromosomal abnormalities or other factors like infection or illness.  Let’s say a pregnant woman catches a cold from her toddler.  She then miscarries.  Was there human involvement, for purposes of the Georgia statute?  Sounds like it; the woman would be a criminal in the State of Georgia.

This bill represents a new low in legislative disregard for women’s well-being.

-Bridget Crawford

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