Fetal Rights/Abuse D&D

In my Ethics in Healthcare class, we are assigned a short papers on controversial topics. This week's topic is "Should mothers who test positive for such substances as alcohol and drugs (not prescribed) be charged criminally for fetal abuse?"
ETA: Some cases, mother's are arrested in the hospital after giving birth.

I'd like to read some of the opinions of you ladies. Please answer with more than a yes or no. TIA!

I believe so

No. It's a slippery slope.

Of course, but only if they already knew they were pregnant. Some women are addicts and do not know that they are pregnant. However, if they find out they are pregnant and don't attempt to quit then once again yes they should be charged.

That would just open up a new ball field for prolifers . They'd use that as a reason to say that it's abuse and murder and it would probably stick.

No. In those situations, I think the child should be removed from the mother's custody temporarily until she completes a rehabilitation program.

Once you start charging women for doing drugs/alcohol during pregnancy because it may harm the fetus, you will also have to charge pregnant women who eat sushi regularly. Until that baby is born, it is not its own person and does hold any rights.

What about fetal homicide? If someone else can be charged for the damage done to a pregnant woman or the fetus carried by the woman, should the pregnant woman be charged with harm she does to her own child past the point of viability?

Quoting Always♥Faithful:" What about fetal homicide? If someone else can be charged for the damage done to a pregnant woman or ... [snip!] ... carried by the woman, should the pregnant woman be charged with harm she does to her own child past the point of viability?"

Eh, I see the hypocrisy, but to me it's not the same. I have the right to do whatever I want to my body, but no one else has the right to touch me. Know what I mean?

No.
Until that cord is cut, the fetus is still just a temporary add-on to the mother. I understand a manslaughter/murder charge when someone else kills a fetus but if it's the mother, it's no different than ruining her lungs to me. Meh. It kinda sucks for the fetus when it turns into a baby.

Quoting bbbt:" Eh, I see the hypocrisy, but to me it's not the same. I have the right to do whatever I want to my body, but no one else has the right to touch me. Know what I mean? "

I agree. I'm pro-choice, and I'm having a hard time with this topic. You *general* have the right to abort, but what about past the time limit set by the state? After that is it a free for all of what you do with the fetus without reprecussion? That's what's throwing me.