Another Take on the C-Section Murderess

Last week, I briefly discussed the case of a Utah woman who has been charged with murder after she ignored a doctor's advise to have a C-section, thus causing the stillbirth of one of her twins. A Findlaw column today attacks the issue from another perspective, that of equal rights. The argument goes that because charges like this can only be brought against women it violates the ideal of equal rights.

While that may be true, I think the article glosses over a more fundamental point by defining the issue so narrowly. If this prosecution succeeds, where will the distinction be drawn between what this woman did and a person who refuses to give a family member a kidney or bone marrow? The principle is the same in both cases - a medical procedure forced on one person can save the life of another. That's a very dangerous road to start down.