Brittany Watts, 33, was charged after police searched her toilet following her miscarriage in September.

Brittany Watts, 33, was charged after police searched her toilet following her miscarriage in September.

A Black woman in Ohio has been charged with a felony for abuse of a corpse after she miscarried into her toilet, according to a criminal complaint, and reproductive rights experts are warning that it could set a dangerous precedent if she is convicted.

The attorney for Brittany Watts and a campaign organized on her behalf called the charges against her unjust, saying they feared the case could open the door to similar prosecutions and lawsuits over miscarriages nationwide.

Just hours after Watts, 33, was admitted to a hospital for a life-threatening hemorrhage after she miscarried in her bathroom Sep. 22, police removed her toilet from her home and searched it for fetal remains, according to a GoFundMe set up to fund her legal expenses and home repairs.

“Ms. Watts suffered a tragic and dangerous miscarriage that jeopardized her own life. Rather than focusing on healing physically and emotionally, she was arrested and charged with a felony and is fighting for her freedom and reputation,” her attorney, Traci Timko, said in a statement.

  • shalafi@lemmy.worldEnglish
    654·
    1 year ago

    Y’all, she refused medical treatment, twice. Abortion law was never on the table. This story omits those facts, others do not. I’ve read three stories about this case, and this one happily skips over a few pertinent details. And I’m always happy to be proven wrong, have a chance to learn.

    This was a women under extreme stress who made a few bad choices. And no, there should have been no charges given the circumstances. But at no point was she refused an abortion, and at no point were doctors considering the law.

    This sad tale was nothing like what happened to the woman in Texas.

    • derf82@lemmy.worldEnglish
      342·
      1 year ago

      There was a well publicized case where a raped 10 year old in Ohio had to leave the state for an abortion. Of course she would not seek an abortion, it was well documented they were not available in Ohio.

    • ipkpjersi@lemmy.ml
      302·
      1 year ago

      How do you know she refused treatment? It sounds like she wanted treatment and wasn’t given it.

    • NatakuNox@lemmy.world
      16·
      1 year ago

      Maybe if health care wasn’t hidden behind a pay wall and maybe if health care in America didn’t have a history of abusing minority women. And any treatment she received wouldnt have saved the fetus. Also, she was afraid any treatment would have resulted in her being imprisoned anyways. Abortion bans make an already complicated situation like pregnancy even more complicated for no reason. Maybe you should read up on this situation.