I truly don’t understand these nurses. Women miscarry all the time - even in the second trimester. They should know this. Moreover, they’re clearly not turning in everyone when this happens. So I guess if you’re a woman, you had just better hope that the nurse decides you wanted your baby and it’s a “real” miscarriage. When that kind of subjectivity is left up to the individual, you can bet money we will get random, biased, and racialized outcomes.
Thank you for your reporting, even in the face of intimidation tactics. I live in South Carolina and hadn’t heard this story. I already support the Palmetto State Abortion Fund, but I really appreciate you including the link directly to this woman’s fundraiser for dealing with this egregious government overreach.
It has always infuriated me how the typical mantra of small government around here suddenly goes flying out the window for far too many when it’s a pregnant person. I’ve firmly come to believe that Evangelicalism is the biggest threat we face in our society, considering anti-abortion wasn’t even a firm Evangelical belief 50 yrs ago, but now talk to any one now, & they all seem to believe their religion has always considered abortion to be murder. That kind of manipulation is dangerous, and commonplace in those religions.
Here's a tidbit about Cotton Mather and the woman he condemned to death for burying a stillbirth... in 1693. I majored in American Literature in College, so this popped into my mind just now. This AI summary leaves out what I studied and learned before I graduated in 1968: Elizabeth Emerson consistently explained that both fetuses were dead when she delivered them.
But she was unmarried (note that of course the fetuses' father--perhaps Timothy Swan--never had the slightest penalty), and had already given birth to one daughter while unmarried. So Cotton Mather took it upon himself to keep her in a dank prison month after month, visiting her, pretending to be kindly concerned with her soul, until he finally broke her down. Knowing that she would never be freed, she finally said what he'd been grooming her to say: that though both had been born alive, she dug a hole and buried them.
"Elizabeth Emerson's case and Cotton Mather's involvement:
Concealment of Birth: Emerson gave birth to illegitimate twins in secret and then buried their bodies. In Puritan Massachusetts, concealing the birth of a child, especially an illegitimate one, was a serious offense and could lead to accusations of infanticide, even if the babies were stillborn.
Discovery and Trial: Neighbors, suspicious of her pregnancy, examined her and found evidence of childbirth. The bodies of the babies were subsequently found in a shallow grave, and Elizabeth was arrested. She was tried, convicted, and sentenced to hang.
Mather's Role: Cotton Mather, a prominent Puritan minister, was actively involved in this case. He preached a sermon on the day of Emerson's execution, a sermon that included a declaration written by Elizabeth, confessing her sins and acknowledging her condemnation as just punishment. Mather had also spent time with Emerson prior to the execution, reportedly trying to get her to confess to the crime, though she initially insisted on her innocence.
Execution: Elizabeth Emerson was hanged in Boston on June 8, 1693, along with another woman convicted of a similar crime.
It's important to understand this event within the context of Puritan society. The social and legal environment of the time was strict, particularly for women, where offenses related to childbirth outside of marriage carried harsh penalties. Mather's involvement reflects the deeply ingrained Puritan beliefs about sin, justice, and the role of religious authorities in upholding moral order."
In the 1600s as in the ever-darkening America of Project 2025, women bear cruel and unjust penalties for miscarriages and stillbirths.
I am horrified by this criminalization stuff. As a retired attorney, I wish I could help but it's been too long since I practiced law. So I contributed to IF/WHEN/HOW the only way I could: with $.
Thr use of the description of an 18 week old fetus as an "unborn or stillborn baby"is inflammatory and deliberate.
As Jessica noted, an 18 week.old fetus was NOT viable. Using the word fetus is medically accurate. We should be pushing back on the misuse of language.
Oh so South Carolina doesn’t want us repost this story EVERYWHERE? So the rest of the country can see how they treat women having a miscarriage? Got it.
“White evangelicals in the 1970s didn’t initially care about abortion. They organized to defend racial segregation in evangelical institutions — and only seized on banning abortion because it was more palatable than their real goal.”
Again, I’m not a lawyer, but the nature of public records is that they are public, as in public property, paid for with taxpayer dollars. Freedom of the press aside, it has got to be unconstitutional to punish anyone for using public records any way they like. Even if this regulation passes legal muster, I’d like to see them try to argue that publishing a newsletter that is available for free but that some people choose to support with subscriptions, or raising money for legal expenses is “commercial solicitation.”
Unfortunately, in 2025+ America a politician (or anyone, really) can file a suit against an individual, agency, etc., and any of us can go broke hiring lawyers to defend us. That's why even Harvard and Columbia as well as several major law firms have been caving in to the Orange Felon.
I truly don’t understand these nurses. Women miscarry all the time - even in the second trimester. They should know this. Moreover, they’re clearly not turning in everyone when this happens. So I guess if you’re a woman, you had just better hope that the nurse decides you wanted your baby and it’s a “real” miscarriage. When that kind of subjectivity is left up to the individual, you can bet money we will get random, biased, and racialized outcomes.
Thank you for your reporting, even in the face of intimidation tactics. I live in South Carolina and hadn’t heard this story. I already support the Palmetto State Abortion Fund, but I really appreciate you including the link directly to this woman’s fundraiser for dealing with this egregious government overreach.
It has always infuriated me how the typical mantra of small government around here suddenly goes flying out the window for far too many when it’s a pregnant person. I’ve firmly come to believe that Evangelicalism is the biggest threat we face in our society, considering anti-abortion wasn’t even a firm Evangelical belief 50 yrs ago, but now talk to any one now, & they all seem to believe their religion has always considered abortion to be murder. That kind of manipulation is dangerous, and commonplace in those religions.
Isn't a doctor turning someone in to law enforcement for a medical event a violation of HIPPA?
Being threatened for asking for public records is…well. It’s fascism. That’s what it is.
When I click the link to donate for her, it says ‘there’s been a glitch’ over on donor box. Have others successfully used the link?
DonorBox.org/legal-fees
My question is, in these states, if you have a miscarriage, what are you supposed to do with the products of conception?
I agree with others even though the hospitals are compromised please tell us which hospital it was.
Thank you for reporting this. Donation made 👍❤️
Here's a tidbit about Cotton Mather and the woman he condemned to death for burying a stillbirth... in 1693. I majored in American Literature in College, so this popped into my mind just now. This AI summary leaves out what I studied and learned before I graduated in 1968: Elizabeth Emerson consistently explained that both fetuses were dead when she delivered them.
But she was unmarried (note that of course the fetuses' father--perhaps Timothy Swan--never had the slightest penalty), and had already given birth to one daughter while unmarried. So Cotton Mather took it upon himself to keep her in a dank prison month after month, visiting her, pretending to be kindly concerned with her soul, until he finally broke her down. Knowing that she would never be freed, she finally said what he'd been grooming her to say: that though both had been born alive, she dug a hole and buried them.
"Elizabeth Emerson's case and Cotton Mather's involvement:
Concealment of Birth: Emerson gave birth to illegitimate twins in secret and then buried their bodies. In Puritan Massachusetts, concealing the birth of a child, especially an illegitimate one, was a serious offense and could lead to accusations of infanticide, even if the babies were stillborn.
Discovery and Trial: Neighbors, suspicious of her pregnancy, examined her and found evidence of childbirth. The bodies of the babies were subsequently found in a shallow grave, and Elizabeth was arrested. She was tried, convicted, and sentenced to hang.
Mather's Role: Cotton Mather, a prominent Puritan minister, was actively involved in this case. He preached a sermon on the day of Emerson's execution, a sermon that included a declaration written by Elizabeth, confessing her sins and acknowledging her condemnation as just punishment. Mather had also spent time with Emerson prior to the execution, reportedly trying to get her to confess to the crime, though she initially insisted on her innocence.
Execution: Elizabeth Emerson was hanged in Boston on June 8, 1693, along with another woman convicted of a similar crime.
It's important to understand this event within the context of Puritan society. The social and legal environment of the time was strict, particularly for women, where offenses related to childbirth outside of marriage carried harsh penalties. Mather's involvement reflects the deeply ingrained Puritan beliefs about sin, justice, and the role of religious authorities in upholding moral order."
In the 1600s as in the ever-darkening America of Project 2025, women bear cruel and unjust penalties for miscarriages and stillbirths.
I am horrified by this criminalization stuff. As a retired attorney, I wish I could help but it's been too long since I practiced law. So I contributed to IF/WHEN/HOW the only way I could: with $.
Thr use of the description of an 18 week old fetus as an "unborn or stillborn baby"is inflammatory and deliberate.
As Jessica noted, an 18 week.old fetus was NOT viable. Using the word fetus is medically accurate. We should be pushing back on the misuse of language.
Oh so South Carolina doesn’t want us repost this story EVERYWHERE? So the rest of the country can see how they treat women having a miscarriage? Got it.
You are doing great work! And I will continue to share and subscribe.
The racism is so blatant. Going to drop this here again:
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/05/10/abortion-history-right-white-evangelical-1970s-00031480
“White evangelicals in the 1970s didn’t initially care about abortion. They organized to defend racial segregation in evangelical institutions — and only seized on banning abortion because it was more palatable than their real goal.”
Thank you for calling out that sheriff's attempt to scare you and AED into silence, Jessica — as if they could.
Again, I’m not a lawyer, but the nature of public records is that they are public, as in public property, paid for with taxpayer dollars. Freedom of the press aside, it has got to be unconstitutional to punish anyone for using public records any way they like. Even if this regulation passes legal muster, I’d like to see them try to argue that publishing a newsletter that is available for free but that some people choose to support with subscriptions, or raising money for legal expenses is “commercial solicitation.”
Unfortunately, in 2025+ America a politician (or anyone, really) can file a suit against an individual, agency, etc., and any of us can go broke hiring lawyers to defend us. That's why even Harvard and Columbia as well as several major law firms have been caving in to the Orange Felon.
Yes. It's just that we don't have rule of law in this country anymore and so everyone needs to set their expectations accordingly.
so true.