woman charged with murder for stillborn had history of mental illness

[veganwitch]

of course thats not that actual headline but its more truthful

http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Mar/03122004/utah/147031.asp

"...Sikora, a public defender, said Rowland has a long history of mental illness and was first committed to a hospital at age 12....

He said Rowland, herself a twin, was born to a mentally retarded mother. She was placed in foster care almost immediately and adopted before her first birthday. Her twin brother had serious medical problems and died when he was 7, Sikora said.
Rowland was committed to a Pennsylvania mental hospital when she was 12, weighing almost 200 pounds, and diagnosed with "oppositional defiant disorder," Sikora said. The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry defines the condition as an ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant and hostile behavior toward authority figures that seriously interferes with day-to-day functioning.
His client was hospitalized in a mental facility at least one other time and told him she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Sikora said. The defense attorney is waiting for records to confirm that."

of course after the story has been out for a day and everyone automatically assumes that she was just plain vain for not wanting to have a scar on her abdomen we finally start getting a truer picture.

[mmm]

1. how much must we make some people suffer before we wake up?

[veganwitch]

3. the article says she was booked a DAY AFTER her c-section...

when she should be resting and recovering from major surgery, shes thrown in jail.

the article is very telling about the mindset of the prosecutor.

[Bunny]

2. So, as I suspected, she has a documented history of mental

illness, and they're going to prosecute her for murder for refusing a caesarian? This is crazy, no pun intended.:mad:

[nostamj]

4. have you seen the 'mug shot' ?

it's been all over the cable stations today.

my first thought was that she looked like a very sick woman. (and I mean genuinely ill, not depraved/evil)

very tragic story. the fundies, sadly, will eat it up though.

[veganwitch]

5. well she was thrown in jail the day after giving birth.

im not even sure how she got released from the hospital.

[Westegg]

6. My first thought was indeed "vanity"---

----because the media weren't giving any additional info (predictably---they just want to rush the "if-it-bleeds-it-leads" headline out there ASAP). My second thought---literally a second later---was: Surely her doctors told her that her irrational fears of C-section scars were unfounded?

Now, as you say, we're getting a truer picture, and it's a picture of a tragedy that could have/should have been prevented.

I'm anxious to get the WHOLE picture, if such a thing will ever be possible.

[Mel]

7. this is horrible

makes me sick to do this to someone that they know has a history of mental illness!
That in and of itself is down right evil look at the illness damit how can they even think prosecuting this woman is a solution? It will only make her sicker and her worst fears come true and can be justified in her mind as I'm not the one that's sick. See what authority is doing to her? duhhhh!

To bad our real first lady Tipper isn't where she should be maybe she could help?
I know this is her cause http://www.nimh.nih.gov/whitehouse/campaign.asp
one more piece that just makes me sick for what could of been. The 2004 election can't come soon enough!!!!!!

[Lady President]

8. Not surprised

I'm not the least bit surprised that she has a history of mental illness. I know I shouldn't judge someone on their appearance, but when I saw her picture on The Smoking Gun, I immediately thought that she had some major problems.

I also find it interesting that she was a twin. I wonder if being a twin who was placed into foster care, then having the other twin die, could have played a role in her actions. It's hard to say what decisions she would make in this situation. Things may not make sense to us, but would to her.

Where was the hospital in all this? If anyone should be facing charges, it's the hospital for not determining the needs of this patient. There are court procedures they should have taken when they saw she couldn't make her own decisions.

There is so much to this story beyond 'vanity.'

[supernova]

9. Well, at least this makes demented sense

Mental illness. That would explain a lot.

I do feel sorry for her and the twins. Perhaps the one who died was the lucky one. God help the surviving one. :cry:

[Karenina]

10. If the self-righteous crotch sniffers

could just BUTT-OUT of this tragedy and leave this woman and her family IN PEACE, they themselves may find a way to heal. The story was spun from the gitgo. "VAIN WOMAN KILLS BABY." It's DISGUSTING but it sells papers in Amurikkka...

[kiahzero]

11. Hell, it sells here

Some people here drank the Kool-Aid, and are insisting that the cyanide is just a fun new flavor.