Elizabeth Nolan Brown on Pregnancy Crimes

Starting in July, new mothers
in Tennessee have been held criminally responsible for a baby’s
birth defects if the problems arise from drug use during pregnancy.
Specifically, the law says that a woman “may be prosecuted for
assault for the illegal use of a narcotic drug while pregnant, if
her child is born addicted to or harmed by the narcotic drug.”
Elizabeth Nolan Brown notes that penalties include up to 15 years
in prison.

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