Delivering While Intoxicated
Alta Charo pointed us to an AP story in Oklahoma, where stuff like this actually happens:BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (AP) -- A woman has been arrested on child neglect charges after giving birth while drunk, police said. Melissa Irene Tanner, 37, is accused of having a blood alcohol content close to three times the legal limit when she gave birth to a baby girl on June 30.
She is being held in jail with bail set at $30,000 and the baby has been placed in foster care.
The baby was not breathing upon birth and had to be administered a medication to counteract any narcotics that may have been present in the child's system. After an emergency procedure by hospital staff, the child started breathing.
Tanner reportedly has six other children. According to a July 11 probable cause affidavit filed in the case, Tanner told police she and another person had consumed a case of beer.
contribute a comment
Comments have been closed for this post.
comments
Perhaps she will at least receive treatment for her addiction/abuse problem.
The problem does seem to affect lower-income and lower-educated women more than higher - at least according to official reports.
Unfortunately, across the country, there are too few outpatient programs for women with abuse problems and even fewer for women who are pregnant.
- by Beverly on Jul 15, 2005 at 10:57 AM | link
"blood alcohol content close to three times the legal limit "
The legal limit for drinking while birthing?
- by Stroll on Jul 15, 2005 at 12:20 PM | link
"Stuff like this" doesn't happen outside Oklahoma?
- by Karama on Jul 18, 2005 at 2:20 PM | link