1. United States
2. S.D.
3. Letter

The arrest of a Georgia woman for allegedly mishandling the remains after a miscarriage is highly concerning. This disturbing case appears to be one of the first instances where fetal personhood laws are being used to criminalize pregnancy loss. Women who experience the tragic event of a miscarriage should receive compassionate medical care, not face potential criminal charges. Miscarriages are devastatingly common, occurring in about one in four pregnancies. There are no standardized laws or protocols in the U.S. around how to handle the remains after a miscarriage. To charge this woman for how she disposed of the fetal remains after a naturally occurring miscarriage at 19 weeks is an unjustified overreach that could set a dangerous precedent. Cases like these will only breed more fear and distrust, potentially discouraging women from seeking critical medical care after a miscarriage out of worry they could be investigated or prosecuted. This not only jeopardizes the health and wellbeing of women, but also does nothing to improve public safety. We urge you to take action to protect women's reproductive rights and their ability to access health services related to pregnancy without threat of criminal penalties. The criminalization of miscarriages and pregnancy loss must end. Women's wellbeing and autonomy over their own bodies should be prioritized over pursuing harsh prosecutions that do more harm than good.