A grand jury in Ohio has decided not to charge Brittany Watts, 34, with abuse of a corpse in connection with her handling of a home miscarriage, a case that gained national attention. Watts, who had visited a Catholic hospital prior to the miscarriage, was advised to induce labor due to a nonviable fetus. The decision not to charge her was met with relief by her supporters who planned a rally in her honor. The case had sparked discussions about reproductive health care access and the legal status of fetuses, as states across the country debate new laws.
Watts had been accused of flushing and scooping out the toilet after miscarrying, leaving the 22-week-old fetus lodged in the pipes. However, an autopsy revealed that the fetus died in utero with no recent injuries. Her attorney argued that she was being unfairly demonized for something that happens every day, and that Ohio’s abuse-of-corpse statute lacks clear definitions.
The case raised questions about the legal status of the fetus and the actions taken by Watts following the miscarriage. The municipal judge found probable cause to bind over the case, but the grand jury ultimately decided not to indict her. The issue of reproductive health care access and the treatment of miscarriages is an ongoing debate in the United States, and cases like Watts’ highlight the complexities involved.
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