In my opinion and according to MY beliefs, I feel that a life is a life from the moment that it is CONCEIVED (forget all of that embryo-fetus stuff).
I was previously a Children's Protective Services social worker (in Florence, SC as a matter of fact) for years and I've seen many similar cases, but never one where the unborn baby died. Each case is different and I do believe that addiction is a sickness. However, adults DO haveto assume responsibility for their part in providing and protecting their children. That's the whole concept of the Department of Social Services' Children Protective Services Unit. Now it's ONE thing for a parent to not be able to do those things (provide and protect) because of POVERTY. But it's an entirely DIFFERENT thing for a parent to not be able to do those things because of ABUSE and NEGLECT.
I'm saying all of this to say that this woman (just as ANY woman who is a mother) KNEW that she was responsible for another life. I don't really know WHAT her punishment should or should not have been. But I DO know that when she made the decision to continue to smoke crack in her condition, she left herself WIDE OPEN for situations such as this.
|
Threaded Mode