by TChris

Yesterday, TalkLeft reported that Melissa Rowland has entered into a plea agreement reducing a murder charge to two counts of child endangerment. Prosecutors based the initial charge on a stillbirth that followed Rowland's decision not to submit to the prompt C-section that her physician recommended.

Although the reduced charges are certainly better than a homicide prosecution, womens' rights advocates continue to call attention to the ramifications of the prosecution's decision to file any charges at all against Rowland. They joined together yesterday to call Rowland "a victim of an overzealous prosecutor, misguided medical personnel, a failed health care system and an abusive jail system."

The women say Rowland had the right to decide if and when she had a Caesarean section, despite the prosecution's contention that Rowland's delay cost the life of her unborn boy.

Activists point out that the decision to prosecute will have a chilling effect on other women who may avoid any prenatal care for fear that the failure to follow a doctor's advice will lead to a criminal charge. In addition,

Pam Udy, vice president of the International Caesarean Awareness Network, said the Rowland case will pressure other expectant mothers into getting C-sections unnecessarily.