In a finding that could have major implication for for the legal status of drug addicted mothers, a woman from Michigan has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after the infant she was breastfeeding allegedly died from a cocaine overdose.
According to the prosecutors in the case, the child died as a direct result of the cocaine present in the breast milk.
The lawyers defending the woman say that they and she disagree with the prosecution’s assessment of the cause of death of her infant.
Regardless, the case could have a major impact on issues surrounding drug addicted mothers. Concerns such as the legality of breast feeding when having knowingly consumed illicit substances would be the obvious issue at stake. If this is found to be a legal problem, then it also opens a pandora’s box of sub-issues concerning both the rights of children and mothers.
Certainly an interesting one to keep an eye on.
Via Moonbuggy.
