Some Alabama hospitals have been administering drug tests to new mothers and their babies without asking consent or warning about the potential consequences.
Since 2006, Alabama's Chemical Endangerment Law has been used to charge almost 500 women with endangering their unborn child. Officials often use hospital drug tests as probable cause to arrest mothers. Consequences of a positive drug test include seizure of newborn children, loss of custody, hefty fines and prison time.
Hospital patients expect staff to respect their privacy. Administering non-consensual drug tests is a breach of trust. Women will avoid seeking medical care and attention through their pregnancies and births if they fear legal action against them. Please sign the petition to urge Alabama hospitals to stop drug-testing women without consent!
We, the undersigned, are concernet that some Alabama hospitals have been administering drug tests to new mothers and their babies without asking consent or warning about the potential consequences.
Since 2006, Alabama's Chemical Endangerment Law has been used to charge almost 500 women with endangering their unborn child. Officials often use hospital drug tests as probable cause to arrest mothers. Consequences of a positive drug test include seizure of newborn children, loss of custody, hefty fines and prison time.
Hospital patients expect staff to respect their privacy. Administering non-consensual drug tests is a breach of trust. Women will avoid seeking medical care and attention through their pregnancies and births if they fear legal action against them. We respectfully urge you to create legislation to stop hospitals from drug-testing women without consent. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.
