FARGO, ND – 32-year-old Reanne Pederson was sentenced to four months in Cass County Jail after she admitted to accidentally killing her baby boy. Pederson was convicted of negligent homicide and ingesting a controlled substance after she snorted hydrocodone and breast fed her baby boy.
Pederson’s includes two years of probation in addition to the four months of jail time, and may be required to complete a drug treatment program. The baby boy died after receiving her tainted breast milk, becoming unresponsive, and passing away the next day.
Pederson also admitted to smoking meth while pregnant.
A large disagreement in society is whether or not mothers have a responsibility, legal and ethical, to abstain from toxic substances while pregnant or nursing. Some argue that smoking or drinking substances while pregnant or nursing is a form of child abuse. Others argue that it’s the woman’s body and it’s her right to choose. But where do infants rights come in? Should it be wrong and/or illegal for a mother to endanger their child in such a way? Some people believe that it’s the parent’s choice. What do you think? Leave your comments below, or engage in our community section for a discussion on this topic.
