Should pregnant women caught smoking and drinking be arrested?
 

We've all seen it. A woman with a belly out to 'there' sitting in a bar downing drink after drink and puffing away like a steam engine. You just know she's putting her unborn child at all kinds of risk for all sorts of health problems but there's nothing anyone can do. It's no one's business but hers. Or is it?

Granted these mothers-to-be are being irresponsible, but in the eyes of the legal system the fetus is not seen as 'a person'. They will be a person one day soon though, and many will be born with varying degrees of diminished respiratory capacity, defects, heart disease, etc.
So the question is...

Should law enforcement be able to charge such women with something? If not, why not?


State your case.



Those who wish to research their answer before posting, here you go...
I did your google search for you -- Smoking and drinking while pregnant>>>

This article also came up in search results I was doing for some other news stuff
(which as it happens was the spark for the idea of this thread) ---

Mom Disappointed by Baby's Sex Refuses to Quit Smoking & Drinking
A mom of 2 and notorious pregnant model from the U.K. is making international headlines after coming out swinging against ... her unborn baby. Josie Cunningham was so disappointed when she found out she was having a boy in October, she says she can't stop drowning her sorrows in wine and cigarettes. She also admits she would be behaving quite differently if she was having a girl.

they should be arrested and stoned to death by the Taliban

Was just wonering this. Saw this yesterday but i coud not tell if she was smoking an ecig. Not sure if those are as bad so i was torn on whether or not to riduculw her.

They shouldn't be arrested, but their offspring most likely will be arrested eventually.

doctors will say they can drink some. seen it before. (just not a lot) its not illegal to smoke prego

Not they should not. It's their bodies and their embryo to do with as they please.

I saw something similar to this on the John Quinones Show, What would you do? I think it is horrible for the baby, I think they should have to go to a rehab program if they are caught.

It's not illegal. You might be able to get CPS involved, but even then...I'm not sure they'd touch that.

From a legal POV that would depend upon where you lived and how your country dealt with religion vs government issues.

"When does life begin?" would need to be answered first.

if it had nic in the e-cig, then probably worse, people tend to double and triple their nic intake with e-cigs....

No, but we need to freak out over it, and speak your feelings, this is one of those times where its best too

Reference link on the double/triple facts?

My personal thought is the mother should be charged at a minimum with child abuse and/or child neglect. That's based on current US laws and my personal beliefs.

She should be congratuled

vibrations could be a cause of abortion

Reference link on the current US laws facts?

Smoking is bad for your health. Duh.

We all know that. But guess what? Generations of smoking mothers children have done just fine. Ever since the mid 1800's actually.

Until such time as the Taliban gets to call the shots on this side of the ocean, it is and should remain their choice.

Period.

Big brother needs to move on to another worry.

Yeah, and every fat chick in a bar will win a $1 Million law suit for being taken down wrongfully.

:1orglaugh

The pregnant mom will resist arrest so the cops will use a choke hold on her.

:helpme

If I have to have my kids wear a damn seat belt, and wear a bike helmet. I see no reason she shouldn't get in-trouble for smoking/drinking while pregnant.

Requiring kids to wear a seat belt or bike helmet is a good idea given that they're too young to personally make an educated choice re the merits thereof.

Helmet laws for adults not so much.

Regulating the behavior of pregnant women is just a tad too Big Brotherish IMO.

she can get an abortion but she can't have a smoke...?

no, but they should be warned about the possible results of the smoking for the baby to come...

Regulating personal behavior makes for some strange anomalies, eh?

It's issues such as these that make libertarianism in it's pure form look quite sensible IMO.

I'd forbid women ro use alcohol/tabac without written permission from their father or husband. No matter if they are pregnant or not. And revoke license from liquor shops who caught selling alcohol to women without written permission.

Indeed :2 cents:

Ha ha, fair point well made sir.

I imagine the reasoning behind this would be: If you're going to get an abortion, fine, get one. But if you're choosing to HAVE the kid then you HAVE to look after it, which includes taking care of it throughout the entire pregnancy.


Solid points made on both sides so far. I like it.


I'm surprised that no one has really delved into the whole "when does life begin?" connundrum. Only one person even mentioned it in passing. but what about the fact that if the fetus was deemed to be 'a person' and therefore entitled to protection from selfish irresponsible mothers, what would that then do to existing abortion laws? How could a law protect the fetus in one sense but not in the other? Is it possible?

If they pop damaged babies it is us/society who would pay the bills.
So yes, they should be.

Helmet laws are for the safety of insurance companies not bikers:2 cents:

yes they should and fathers who have sex with ugly ladies too

life has its own natural forms of punishment, AKA the baby may be sick, disabled, addicted or disturbed, & the mom is going to have to deal with those issues all her life. there's really no need for society to pile on with probations & jails.

im sorry but theres no way the government can protect a fetus. life does not provide equal/fair starting points for people & laws cannot fix that.

:2 cents:

:upsidedow sad people.

Well, she has a right to do whatever she wants. Smoking and drinking is not something you go in jail for... :)

Seeing women heavily pregnant smoking or drinking really aggravates me. If you're choosing to be a mother, you should be responsible enough to think of your childs health first. Nothing that anybody says or does will stop some people though.