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.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    1 year ago

    Thank you! Unfortunately the articles I’ve been reading are all the same two, literally, text and all. Searched again last night.

    Why the hell would they take the “abortion law bad” angle and not simply quote what you have?! That makes the issue far clearer.

    And no, you don’t have to bury me in sources, but thanks for offering more. I get it now, and thanks again.