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Peek @ Policy Blog

Statement on “Cocaine Mom Law” Court Decision

5/1/2017

 
Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health (WAWH) Executive Director, Sara Finger, released the following statement regarding today's ruling by U.S. District Court Judge James Peterson that found 1997 Wisconsin Act 292, sometimes referred to as the "Cocaine Mom Law," unconstitutional:

"WAWH is excited and relieved by today's decision to strike down this punitive law that permits the state to deprive pregnant women of basic rights and take action that is known to undermine maternal, fetal, and child health. 

We are especially proud of the brave plaintiff in this case, Tammy Loertscher, who was willing to relive the trauma she endured as a result of this law in order to challenge its constitutionality.  As a result of admitting to drug use before she was pregnant, Ms. Loertscher was denied her most basic constitutional rights and was incarcerated in a local jail for 18 days, which included time in solitary confinement.  While in the jail she did not even have access to prenatal care or medication she needed to treat a thyroid condition.

This punitive approach to potential maternal drug use is almost uniformly opposed by the established medical community.  The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Society of Addiction Medicine, and American Public Health Association all filed an amicus brief opposing the law. A link to the WI ACOG statement can be found here.

WAWH hopes that Judge Peterson's ruling is upheld so that no other Wisconsin women must endure what Ms. Loertscher, along with hundreds of other women in the state since the law's enactment, have experienced under this ill-conceived law.  WAWH would also like to thank attorneys from National Advocates for Pregnant Women and the law firm Perkins Coie for their invaluable work on this case."

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    Authors

    Sara Finger, Executive Director

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  • Home
  • About
    • Our Initiatives >
      • PATCH
      • ECCHO WI
      • ECCOS
      • Wide Awake in Wisconsin
      • Policy Rx: Our Policy Vision
      • Wisconsin Women's Health Advocacy Summit
      • Health Professionals at the Forefront >
        • Unbiased Care in Women's Health
      • Women Win With the ACA
    • News
  • Take Action
    • Vote! >
      • Vote Early!
      • OutreachCircle
    • Census 2020
    • Know Your Legislators >
      • Meeting with Legislators
    • Media Advocacy
    • Policy Watch >
      • Peek at Policy Blog
      • Democracy & Accountability
      • 2021 Legislative Session Review >
        • Legislator Vote Record 2021-22
      • 2019 Legislative Session Review >
        • Legislator Vote Record
      • Executive Blueprint
      • Health Programs >
        • WI Well Woman Program
      • Economic Security >
        • Paid Family Medical Leave
      • Violence Against Women
      • Reproductive Health >
        • Post Roe Abortion Access
        • SCOTUS
        • Truth
        • Timeline of Reproductive Health Threats in WI
        • RESPECT Women Act
        • "Personhood"
        • Pelvic Exam Consent
      • Maternal & Child Health >
        • Momnibus Act
        • Postpartum Medicaid Coverage Expansion
        • Black MCH Justice
        • Healthy Women Healthy Babies
        • Community Based Doulas
        • WI "Cocaine Mom" Law
        • Patient Privacy & Confidentiality
      • State Budget
      • Health Care Reform >
        • Medicaid Expansion
  • Resources
    • Health Care Coverage
    • Resources to be a White Warrior
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Public Charge Rule
    • Reproductive Justice
  • Connect
    • Events >
      • WI Women United for a Better Budget
      • Belly of the Beast Film Discussion
      • WI Women's Health Congress
  • Support Us
    • Why Support Us?
    • Donate >
      • Foster the Future
    • Shop & Support
    • Workplace Giving
    • Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
    • The Big Share
    • Day In My Shoes
  • #KindnessIsEverything
  • Shop
    • Kindness Is Everything Wholesale