United States: The abortion law in Ohio has taken another turn as a group of physicians – who are behind the newly passed reproductive rights amendment – has urged the prosecutor to drop the criminal charges against Brittany Watts, who miscarried her baby in the washroom of her house.

The physicians of Ohio, working for Reproductive Rights – a nonpartisan coalition of 4,000 doctors and others, wrote a letter to Trumbull County Prosecutor – Dennis Watkins and shared their respective concerns. The letter by health officials noted that the criminal charge against Watts, who is 33 years old, conflicts “with the spirit and letter” of Issue 1, according to the Associated Press.  

In November, 57 percent of voters approved a rule in Ohio. The rule ensured a person had the “right to make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions.” Ohio is now the seventh state in a row to vote in favor of protecting these rights since the US Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision in 2022, which had legalized abortion across the nation for a long time.

Watts’ case: A national stir over treatment of pregnant Black women

A national controversy has erupted following Watt’s case caught the headlines. The general public is furious that Black pregnant women have to face discrimination during treatment, even in post-Roe America.

According to the reports, Watts miscarried her baby at home on September 22. This happened just a few days after she was advised that the child was not in a healthy state and she must induce labor so she could undergo a nonviable fetus. The Associated Press noted that she visited the Mercy Health-St. Joseph’s Hospital in Warren twice but left untreated.

Her attorney outlined that she was not treated properly by the hospital staff and was ‘left waiting for lengthy periods and felt anxious and judged.’

After she returned home on Friday, bleeding and no longer pregnant, a nurse called police and mentioned that Watts said that “her baby’s in her backyard in a bucket.” Soon after, police reached her home and found a clogged toilet and a 22-week-old fetus choked in the pipes.

The city prosecutor explained to the judge that Watts made a mistake while trying to fix a clogged toilet. Instead of getting it right, she ended up causing a mess, scooping the overflow into a bucket, leaving it outside near the trash, and continuing with her day without caring, according to the report by the Associated Press.

However, Watts’s attorney, Traci Timko, argued that she is being “demonized for something that goes on every day.” Later, the autopsy report revealed that the fetus had died in utero and there were “no recent injuries.”

According to the reports, Watts now has been charged with a fifth-degree felony and penalties for up to one year in prison and a US$2,500 fine for abusing a corpse.

Medical experts condemn unjust actions in Watts’s case; what does the letter read?

While addressing the concerns, the executive director of the physician’s group – Dr Lauren Beene, wrote, “It was wrong for the nurse who was caring for Ms. Watts and hospital administrators to call the police, wrong for the police to invade Ms. Watts’ home while she was fighting for her life in the hospital, wrong for Warren assistant prosecutor Lewis Guarnieri to move that she be bound over to the Trumbull County grand jury, and wrong for Judge (Terry) Ivanchak to grant his motion,” according to Associated Press.

Beene further stated, “Prosecutor Watkins has the opportunity to be the first law enforcement official to do the right thing since this incident began.” Further, she outlined that it is an “opportunity he should seize immediately.”

Beene expressed concern by the Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights that the legal case in Ohio might discourage other women from seeking care for miscarriages.

It is to be noted that the letter was also presented to Warren’s mayor on December 15, and it was anticipated that support would be given to drop charges against Watts.

Support for Watts!

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and shared Watts’ plight. His post garnered support from the general public, and supporters donated approximately US$135,000 through GoFundMe to provide her assistance with her legal defense, trauma counseling, and medical bills.