At Law: Pregnant Women as Fetal Containers

When Mrs. Pamela Monson was charged under a California child support following the death of her newborn son, she became the first woman to criminally prosecuted for acts and omissions during pregnancy. As a result her not having followed her doctor's advice, her son was born with massive damage and died a few weeks later. Annas contends that the crime of"fetal neglect" has serious implications for pregnant women who may lose their, suffer invasion of privacy, and even be forced to submit to unwanted or surgical procedures. A mother's obligations to the fetus should be construed to allow the state to regulate her lifestyle; the state protect fetuses by improving the welfare and opportunities of pregnant, not by oppressing them. (KIE abstract)