The state of Alabama, apparently seeking to create the most draconian anti-choice atmosphere in the United States, is now on the verge of making women little more than mere vessels for the carrying of fetuses.
In a scene more reminiscent of Margaret Atwood’s classic dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale, Alabama will attempt to take custody of all unborn children, regardless of how the pregnant woman may feel about the matter.
Yes, Alabama is currently trying to strip a woman’s parental rights away from her even though she clearly stated she had no wish to be a parent. The woman, identified as Jane Doe in court documents, sought to terminate her pregnancy, but Alabama District Attorney Chris Connolly refused to allow her to exercise her rights. Instead, he callously charged her under chemical endangerment laws and an attorney was then appointed to represent the fetus.
An attorney is representing the fetus! An unborn child has an attorney. Just the latest chapter in the GOP’s War on Women, which they love to claim doesn’t exist.
The ACLU is representing Jane Doe, and it says she has expressed a “strong desire” to have an abortion.
Oh, but not until we see how the fetus feels about the matter. Get the fetus an attorney forthwith!
ACLU legal director Randall Marshall said Doe is currently in jail and the state maintains she has changed her mind about wanting to terminate her pregnancy:
“If this is truly her decision, it must be respected. However, the circumstances under which this affidavit was obtained are highly suspicious and we are in the process of trying to determine Ms. Doe’s true wishes.”
A federal judge is now involved in the matter and says he will meet with Ms. Doe in private to determine how she wants to proceed.
But this raises a much larger question: Are we prepared to see states impose this kind of burden on a woman who seeks to exercise her reproductive choice? Do we want to put women in jail and use taxpayer funds for attorneys who will represent the fetus in question?
Do we want to see our country treat women as nothing more than incubators? Are we ready to take that step into the arms of Big Brother?
This article was originally published by the same author at LiberalAmerica.org.
I have a question. Will the fetus be responsible for paying its attorney for services rendered?
One can be certain the answer is if not the fetus, then the mother.