In this provocative article, the author discusses the legislative encroachment of medical practice through passage of laws restricting abortion and the autonomy of pregnant women. The following case is provided as a typical example. Alicia Beltran was a pregnant woman with a history of substance abuse who had stopped using painkillers and was able to wean herself off antiaddiction medication. Her refusal to obey an order by the state to resume using antiaddiction medication resulted in her arrest. Although Ms Beltran screened negatively for drug dependence or abuse, she was held in a facility for months and subsequently released only after a federal complaint was filed on her behalf. The National Advocates for Pregnant Women has documented hundreds of cases involving pregnant women who were criminally charged, jailed, and civilly committed for allegedly failing to fully protect their pregnancies and birth outcomes.
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