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Idaho Mom Of Three Faces Jail Time For Self-Induced Late Term Abortion
Is the abortion ban in Idaho bringing about the return of the back alley abortion?
The recently enacted abortion ban bill in Idaho is already making waves. Signed just two months ago in April, law a measure prohibiting abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, made Idaho the third state to enact such a late term abortion ban. Unfortunately, its consequences are being seen in the state. Jennie L. McCormack, mother of three became desperate after finding out she was pregnant again. Instead of seeking medical care, she had her sister purchase abortion inducing drugs online for her. She ingested the drugs and intentionally miscarried.
Initially, McCormack said she believed she was just 14 weeks pregnant. Yet when investigators examined the remains, they determined the fetus was anywhere from 20-25 gestational age when aborted.
Now McCormack is facing a $5,000 penalty and up to five years in prison if found guilty.
According to the Idaho Press, an acquaintance of one of her sister’s friends, Brenda Carnahan called the police to turn in McCormack when she learned what was happening:
“There’s other things she could have done,” Carnahan said. “She could have asked for some type of help.”
McCormack aborted the fetus on Christmas Eve last year and police say they found the fetus in a box on the back porch on January 9. McCormack claims she was unable to afford the doctors visits and medical bills associated with an actual medical abortion.
It was a foolish decision by all means for this mom who has three other children aged from 2-17. Ordering drugs online is ridiculously unsafe. An abortion in a medical facility during the second trimester is a three-day procedure that includes ultrasound, counseling and lab work. The actual procedure requires general anesthesia. It is not easy or simple even with supervised medical care. McCormack also could have obtained free contraceptives or even a morning after pill at Planned Parenthood and other organizations that cater to poor women.
Do you think she face the fines and jail time? (If she does, what happens to her other three kids?) Will this case serve as a deterrent for other women in Idaho to not have second trimester abortions?
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33 Comments
Rosstwinmom commented on Jun 06 11 at 7:01 amThat lead paragraph has nothing to do with this woman. She didn’t seek a late-term abortion. She thought it was only 14 weeks, so the new law has nothing to do with why she did it this way.
Gagagolly commented on Jun 06 11 at 7:09 amSomeone needs to ice that Brenda Carnahan!
Elendy commented on Jun 06 11 at 8:25 amWow – I’m actually with Gagagolly – that is an absolutely terrifying story of Orwellian level interference on the part of the neighbor. Is this what we are coming to?! How does anyone think this will make the world better or safer for women and children? (Oh wait, I forgot, people who make laws like this could give a shit about women!)
I have lived and worked in several places where abortion is illegal- most recently, in a country where healthcare providers are legally required to report to the government any miscarriages that they suspect were induced.
It is a disastrous situation all around.
kikiriki commented on Jun 06 11 at 8:35 amAnd this is EXACTLY the problem with states like Idaho, because now you have a situation in which women might be afraid to even to go to the doctor because they don’t want any record of being pregnant, and who are too poor to get to another state (like a wealthy person would do with an unwanted pregnancy), who turn to this kind of abortion in desperation. Although in this case, it may be that the woman knew that she was farther along than 14 weeks and is just using that as her defense after she got caught.
Danielle Sullivan commented on Jun 06 11 at 9:27 am@Ross I doubt the mom didn’t know that she was in her second trimester which prompted her to buy the online drugs. She already has 3 kids.
I agree with the comments above, if she was not poor, it would have never been an issue.
Nessie commented on Jun 06 11 at 9:53 amThat poor woman! Brenda Carnahan is an evil, heartless witch for calling the police on her.
Gagagolly commented on Jun 06 11 at 9:53 amOne has to wonder about the mental state of someone who does this to themselves on Christmas Eve and then keeps it in a box on the porch. I do wonder if her children need some kind of assistance/foster care. It definitely seems like the woman needs some counseling, to say the least. Fining her is shameful, since she’s already broke, it seems.
goddess commented on Jun 06 11 at 10:01 amActually had I aborted for fetal anomalies at about 18-20 weeks (2nd trimester) it was an OUT PATIENT procedure. Fact check please.
This is sickening on so many levels. Her body, her choice.
Sara commented on Jun 06 11 at 10:05 amHow horrible that she had to do this herself and how heartless that she’s being prosecuted for it.
If she hadn’t been poor she would have been able to cross state lines and do the procedure legally. How is it helping ANYONE to prosecute this woman? Seems to me that it’s a huge waste of taxdollars.
Danielle Sullivan commented on Jun 06 11 at 10:09 am@Goddesss Not sure what state you’re in, but according to a clinic in Idaho, they do a three day approach. Three consecutive days of appointment with general anesthesia: I never said it was inpatient, just complicated.
Bunnytwenty commented on Jun 06 11 at 10:18 amYa gotta love how the neighbor showed how much she cares about kids by… getting the police to take the mother of three kids away. I’m sure they’re greatly comforted by your concern, you heartless hag.
goddess commented on Jun 06 11 at 11:15 amAh- in mine it’s general anesthesia and in and out, literally. Out patient procedure.
Heather commented on Jun 06 11 at 11:45 amIn the two states I live near, it’s also an outpatient procedure up to 24 weeks. (Until the recent laws passed go into effect lowering it to 20 weeks…) The reason I know this is because we had just a few days after diagnosis to decide if we were going to carry our much loved and wanted son, diagnosed with a 100% fatal chromosome abnormality diagnosed at 23 weeks, to term, then watch him die, or if we were going to interrupt the pregnancy now. Our son’s head was measuring 25 weeks, which made it illegal for us to go the interruption route, and even though we had decided to carry to term, the choice ended up being made for us, which is WRONG in so many ways. We have a 3.5 year old daughter who now has to be told that her baby brother she’s so excited to meet will die after he’s born. She has to watch my growing belly, I will feel every bittersweet kick, and go through an entire pregnancy and delivery knowing I will not bring my baby home. Yes, this is what we chose, but it’s a very difficult choice and all of the situation needs to be considered. Carrying to term might be right for one family, but completely wrong for another. If we had been able to interrupt the pregnancy, we would have done an induction instead of the outpatient D&E procedure. P.S. The D&E procedure does take 3 days (if the baby is 20+ weeks) BUT it’s all outpatient. You go in the first day to have something inserted (it varies) start softening your cervix, next day, another cervix softening treatment and maybe a balloon placed to help dilate, then the 3rd day is the D&E, which is done as an outpatient procedure, you are released just hours afterwards. In an induction, it can take several days as well, but you will be hospitalized for labor and delivery.
Maureen commented on Jun 06 11 at 12:49 pmIt is the TAXPAYERS in Idaho who are paying for this. If the dollar costs of this futile exercise were calculated, the total $$$ spent would put a few kids through college! If this goes through an appeals process and ends up in the Federal courts, the TAXPAYERS will have paid enough $$$ to fund graduate degrees from Yale or Harvard. What do you want for your kids???
Sarah scott commented on Jun 06 11 at 1:35 pmThere is adoption!
Rosana commented on Jun 06 11 at 1:56 pmI am sorry but do not feel bad for her at all.
starrsitter commented on Jun 06 11 at 2:02 pmRestricting access to safe, affordable abortions only increases maternal mortality rates…it DOESN’T stop abortion. Neither does removing access to real, comprehensive sexual health education or reliable contraceptives…doing that increases the number of unintended pregnancies and, thus, the number of abortions.
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We should be examining the social climate that makes a woman think that this (or a coat hanger or paying someone to beat her nearly to death or jumping out a window or any of the other terrible things women have tried to end unintended pregnancies) is their BEST option instead of persecuting and prosecuting this woman.
Bunnytwenty commented on Jun 06 11 at 2:11 pmIf you don’t feel bad for her – don’t you at least sympathize with her kids? I wonder who’s taking care of them now, or how they feel about their mom being in jail. Where’s the compassion for them?
goddess commented on Jun 06 11 at 2:37 pmAdoption is a parenting choice. Only two options exist when pregnant: continuing gestation or terminating it.
Rosana commented on Jun 06 11 at 3:11 pm“If you don’t feel bad for her – don’t you at least sympathize with her kids? I wonder who’s taking care of them now, or how they feel about their mom being in jail. Where’s the compassion for them?” Now that you ask, of course I feel bad for the kids, but not for her.
Voice Of Reason commented on Jun 06 11 at 3:14 pmHeather, I just wanted to say how sorry I am for your horrible situation. You must be made of very tough stuff; my heart goes out to you and your family.
kikiriki commented on Jun 06 11 at 3:33 pmHeather, I am so, so sorry for your loss, and for your family’s loss. That is something no parent should ever have to deal with.
MsFortune commented on Jun 06 11 at 9:21 pmWhy do we hate poor women so much?
Jennifer commented on Jun 06 11 at 11:09 pmIf she is poor like the article says she is, she would have had no problem receiving medical care, especially as a mother that already have 3 children. The medical card covers that.
bwsf commented on Jun 06 11 at 11:32 pmI’m guessing she was frightfully desperate to have ordered, and taken, the drugs. I have no clue what her exact situation was, and therefore will not judge. And her nearest Planned Parenthood was more than likely not the 10 minute drive it is for me. The thing with unplanned pregnancy and abortion is nothing is black and white. No one woman can judge another woman for anything she does, because they lead two separate lives. I will never have an abortion, so long as I live, but I will always remain pro-choice.
Heather commented on Jun 06 11 at 11:32 pmVoice Of Reason and Kikiriki, thank you for your compassion. I’ve grown up Pro-Life, but always knew there was a gray area for situations like fatal fetal anomalies – never imagined I’d be in that gray area… Now, after all of this, I am Pro-Choice. Since I wasn’t able to induce and end the pregnancy now (which is considered an abortion, even when a fatal fetal diagnosis is made), we have to continue the pregnancy, give birth to our son alive, and then LET/WATCH him die. What is the difference? The reason I am Pro-Choice and not Pro-Life with exceptions is that they’re already having enough trouble drawing lines between what is acceptable and what isn’t, therefore, I think all women need to have that choice. Of course I will always wish mothers who couldn’t/don’t want to keep their babies would carry to term and adopt, but that won’t happen. We don’t know the mothers reasons for not carrying a healthy baby – maybe they’re in an abusive relationship and are trying to protect their child from that. Maybe they know full well they are incapable of being a good mother. Birth control/smart decisions are always preferred over abortions, but we all know that doesn’t happen either. What I do know, is those mothers, regardless of the reasons, live with their decision for the rest of their lives.
erica commented on Jun 07 11 at 11:35 amABORTION IS NOT BIRTH CONTROL POINT BLANK CHILDREN DNT TO ASK TO BE BORN . SO IF U KNW U CNT AFFORD ANYMORE THEN USE CONDOMS AND BIRTH CONTROL U CAN GET FREE CONDOMS AT THE CLINICS SO THERE IS NO EXCUSE NOW IT’S NOT 100% BUT IT’S SOMETHING. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO CNT HAVE CHILDREN BUT WANT ONE . I THOUGHT I WAS ONE OF THEM BUT THANK GOD I WAS BLESSED WITH A WONDERFUL SON WHO IS 15MONTHS. PEOPLE WHO HAVES ABORTIONS FOR THE HELP OF IT SHOULDN’T BE ABLE TO HAVE ANYMORE BC THEY ARE SELFISH.
erica commented on Jun 07 11 at 11:39 amDanny auto correction. I was saying people who have have Abortions for the HELL of it need not to be able to have children bc they are selfish
erica commented on Jun 07 11 at 11:43 amSORRY MEANT DAMN AUTO CORRECTION
erica commented on Jun 07 11 at 11:48 am@ heather I’m so sorry for you and your family god bless.
Bunnytwenty commented on Jun 07 11 at 12:36 pmsaying it in caps makes it more true!
condoms fail, and so do birth control pills. And there is not a single woman on earth stupid enough to prefer having an abortion to using a condom. Where do you get this woman-hating nonsense from?
Nessa commented on Jun 21 11 at 1:33 amWho knows why she wanted an abortion. Maybe it was dangerous to her heath and she found out late that she was pregnant. You never know what will cause a woman to decide she wants an abortion. Heck maybe she couldn’t afford it. Just being pregnant is expensive. I can not BELIEVE that a state is putting her in jail for this!
BioPHD commented on Dec 09 11 at 5:24 pm2nd trimester abortions are more complicated than people realize and quite expensive, even at a clinic. I chose to have one due to a fatal genetic abnormality and nearly died from blood loss at a world renowned hospital. If my insurance hadn’t covered it, I would’ve had to pay about $2000 at a clinic where I may not have gotten the care I needed. Although she certainly could’ve made better choices, I get her desperation. She shouldn’t be prosecuted for this.
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