Proposed Policies on Prenatal Substance Abuse
Policies aimed at prenatal substance abuse are extremely sensitive in nature, because the subject delves into the conversations of what is considered part of the women's body, what the women has a right to do to her body, and also the very sensitive topic of abortion.
The purpose of this proposed policy is not to dictate to women what they can do with their bodies, or whether or not it is right to have an abortion procedure done, but to ingrain the idea that if a parent plans to follow through with pregnancy, then any subtance abuse (if any has been done) should be stopped.
In most jurisdictions, abortion is illegal past the first trimester, others allow late-term abortions, and others have laws forbidding abortion past the point where a fetus is able to live outside of the womb.
The proposed policy would be to enact laws that would make it illegal for mothers to use and abuse harmful substances, including alcohol and tobacco, once the point has been passed that it would be illegal for them to have an abortion. That is, it would be technically legal for them to drink and smoke up until that point, even though it could still be detrimental to the health of the baby (and the mother), but once abortion becomes illegal, so does drinking, smoking, and drug use. The idea behind this is that it is quite illegal for parents to allow their children to drink, smoke, or do drugs, so why would it be legal for mothers to allow the same substances to their fetus once it is legally considered a life?
It would be quite difficult to have legislation enacted that would enforce the above viewpoints, but perhaps the idea of the proposed legislation would allow others ideas to spring up, and continue to raise awareness of the effects of prenatal substance abuse.
The purpose of this proposed policy is not to dictate to women what they can do with their bodies, or whether or not it is right to have an abortion procedure done, but to ingrain the idea that if a parent plans to follow through with pregnancy, then any subtance abuse (if any has been done) should be stopped.
In most jurisdictions, abortion is illegal past the first trimester, others allow late-term abortions, and others have laws forbidding abortion past the point where a fetus is able to live outside of the womb.
The proposed policy would be to enact laws that would make it illegal for mothers to use and abuse harmful substances, including alcohol and tobacco, once the point has been passed that it would be illegal for them to have an abortion. That is, it would be technically legal for them to drink and smoke up until that point, even though it could still be detrimental to the health of the baby (and the mother), but once abortion becomes illegal, so does drinking, smoking, and drug use. The idea behind this is that it is quite illegal for parents to allow their children to drink, smoke, or do drugs, so why would it be legal for mothers to allow the same substances to their fetus once it is legally considered a life?
It would be quite difficult to have legislation enacted that would enforce the above viewpoints, but perhaps the idea of the proposed legislation would allow others ideas to spring up, and continue to raise awareness of the effects of prenatal substance abuse.