That is the point of the charge! The state of Oklahoma is actually setting up a challenge to Roe vs Wade (the USA Federal case that set precedent for abortion rights is the USA). First the state passes a law then they have to charge someone with it then it will be appealed prolly all the way to the USA supreme court when it will be set to take down Roe vs Wade. So no I don't think they really or maybe necessarily care that much about illegal drug use in pregnancy they want to change the precedent on abortion rights. In the USA it is about the woman's rights to do whatever to her body over the fetus's rights. I maybe wrong but I think it is different in Australia, certainly in Qld. We don't have a bill of rights on last look so it is quite different.
Despite being a strong advocate for abortion rights I have always had problems with the question of deciding personhood or when human life begins or what defines consciousness with respect to abortion. These maybe fancifull or even enlightening debates on a philosophical level but I don't think philosophers should necessarily decide issues such as this. I guess I have always decided on the lesser of two evils basis. However I do think no matter at what age/stage the pregnancy is when terminated whether an embryo or fetus has died a human life has ended. Simple at least to me. From a biologist's perspective while the embryo may have resembled the embryonic even larval forms of other animals it was only ever going to become a human being, never a fish or a frog. Never!! That being said in my belief system I can acknowledge that if a woman knows what she is doing and for her own reasons cannot continue the pregnancy then she has the right to do so, I hope, although I would have a much younger gestational age than viability as the cut off unless of course the mother's life was in danger when of course the fetus's would be too. Back to the drug use: if you can excuse a drug addict from killing her baby from accidental overdose then I guess you can excuse alcoholics from manslaughter/murder 2 if they kill someone while drunk and in control of a car? I don't know? But I really don't think this is what the case is about it is about overtirning Roe vs Wade. marilyn ---- Original Message ----- From: "Abby and Toby" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 11:52 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] WOMAN CHARGED OVER STILLBIRTH > > Maybe this could deter illegal drug use in pregnancy though....... > > I agree that this is what they are trying to do, but it still seems ironic, > that a woman can choose to have her baby killed but a woman can't > "accidentally" kill her baby by drug use. > I know we all have differing views on abortion, but other people have got to > see the ridiculousness of this. I mean, abortion is a violent act resulting > in the death of a baby............surely, that is equal to a drug addict > causing the death of her newborn. > I just find it hypocritical. Thousands of women choose to have their babies > killed and it's fine, sometimes the government pays for it to happen. Yet > this woman who is a drug addict, "accidentally" causes the death of her baby > and she is facing life in prison??? I just don't think it makes sense. > I think too, that there are heaps of other ways of deterring drug use eg > support before, during and after pregnancy, better info etc etc. > > Love Abby > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
