Frightening

Lisa, over at Kamikaze Kumquat, has something to say about this story

This woman didn't follow her doctor's advice because she was afraid or screwed up or whatever, so they're charging her for murder because one baby was born stillborn? Now, look, it was an unfortunate thing and a bad decision and I think the woman was a moron and she shouldn't have been pregnant to begin with, but charge her for murder? So, I take it Utah is one step from passing a law that says every time a woman ovulates if she doesn't attempt to have the egg fertilized and it's discharged by her body during her period, then she's committed abortion and will be charged for homicide.

TalkLeft has more, including an ABC article that states the obvious to anyone who sees Melissa Ann Rowland's photograph: according to her attorney, she has "a long history" of mental illness. Interestingly, the CNN story makes NO MENTION WHATSOEVER to this condition, but instead, allows the District Attorney to grandstand by claiming that Rowland avoided a C-Section for "cosmetic reasons."

A woman with a long history of mental illness should have been placed in some sort of mental health facility. She certainly should NOT have been entrusted to make such a difficult decision regarding whether or not to undergo a C-Section (itself not necessarily an "easy" procedure), and most certainly should NOT be prosecuted by an overzealous District Attorney who probably couldn't give a half-shit about the stillborn child.

These folks are trying to deny the basic right of a woman to control her own body in the most cynical way imaginable--by cherrypicking a case that involves someone who is MENTALLY ILL. The disposition of this case could go a long way towards limiting the rights of millions of women who are mentally sound. That isn't right.

I'm thinking strongly about attending the April 25th March for Women's Rights in Washington, D.C., because of things like this. It's time that people respected and accepted ALL women's rights. End of story.