"Purvi Patel’s conviction is a travesty against women; The traumatic miscarriage of an unwanted child is not murder"

a pencil drawing from Patel's trial, showing a brown-skinned
woman in a hoodie sitting beside a white man in a suit

Patel was convicted for attempting to protect her own privacy clumsily and inadequately. She was convicted for not knowing her rights. She was convicted for failing to seek medical care for a pregnancy she did not know whether she wanted. She was convicted for expressing doubts about her desire or ability to birth and raise a child outside of marriage. She was convicted for not knowing that she could have a legal abortion and for contemplating an illegal one. She was convicted for living in a country that makes access to legal abortion nearly impossible in certain areas. 

Patel is not being convicted for killing — or intending to kill — a baby. She is being convicted for being his mother.

"Purvi Patel’s conviction is a travesty against women; The traumatic miscarriage of an unwanted child is not murder"