The Criminalization of Miscarriage: A Harsh Reality for Black Women

Brittany Watts, a Black woman in Ohio, faced criminal charges after experiencing a miscarriage. At 21 weeks and 5 days pregnant, her water broke prematurely, and doctors advised inducing labor to deliver the nonviable fetus. However, Watts faced a harrowing ordeal, including multiple hospital visits, miscarrying at home, and being charged with abuse of a corpse. This case has sparked national outrage and highlights the perils faced by pregnant women, particularly Black women, in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The incident raises concerns about the criminalization of unintentional harm to pregnancies and the disproportionate targeting of Black and brown women.