Research in medicine continues to reveal more and more ways in which a baby 's health can be jeopardized by what a woman does during pregnancy. Heavy alcohol use during pregnancy can result in "fetal alcohol syndrome." Infants with this syndrome suffer from mental retardation and physical deformities and have an increased chance of dying shortly after birth. Developments in genetics and obstetrics continue to provide us with more and more prenatal diagnostic tests and medical treatments that enable us to prevent birth defects. Most women welcome these developments. There are some, however, who are unwilling to avoid those activities or behaviors that could harm their offspring. These women refuse to undergo medical treatments that would prevent birth defects.
Forcing pregnant women to submit to medical treatment for the sake of their fetus imposes an obligation on them that we as a society do not impose on others. It is only fair to be equal with everyone. We allow people the right to refuse medical attention if they don 't want it and they do not have to put others medical needs before their own. We are asking something of these women that we do not ask of the rest of society. Furthermore, as a society, we have a duty to protect the fetus, even if that means forcing the woman to get medical treatment. If they do not cooperate, criminal prosecution is the most reasonable second option.
Bibliography
Harris MD, Lisa H.. "The Status of Pregnant Women and Fetuses in US Criminal Law, April 2, 2003, Harris and Paltrow 289 (13): 1697 — JAMA ." JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, a weekly peer-reviewed medical journal published by AMA — JAMA . http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/289/13/1697.full (accessed February 18, 2011).
Dailard, Cynthia, and Elizabeth Nash. "State Responses to Substance Abuse Among Pregnant Women." Guttmacher Institute: Home Page. http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/tgr/03/6/gr030603.html (accessed February 18, 2011).
"The Constitution of the United States of America." GPO Access Home Page. http://www.gpoaccess.gov/constitution/html/amdt4.html (accessed February 18, 2011).
Bibliography: Harris MD, Lisa H.. "The Status of Pregnant Women and Fetuses in US Criminal Law, April 2, 2003, Harris and Paltrow 289 (13): 1697 — JAMA ." JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, a weekly peer-reviewed medical journal published by AMA — JAMA . http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/289/13/1697.full (accessed February 18, 2011). Dailard, Cynthia, and Elizabeth Nash. "State Responses to Substance Abuse Among Pregnant Women." Guttmacher Institute: Home Page. http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/tgr/03/6/gr030603.html (accessed February 18, 2011). "The Constitution of the United States of America." GPO Access Home Page. http://www.gpoaccess.gov/constitution/html/amdt4.html (accessed February 18, 2011).
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