Florida woman allegedly left alone to give birth in jail cell
After a mentally ill Florida woman was allegedly left alone to give birth in her jail cell, advocates are pushing for a full review of medical and isolation practices.
In a letter to Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony on Friday, Public Defender Howard Finkelstein expressed outrage over his 34-year-old pregnant client, who was left alone in a jail cell for almost seven hours, despite asking for assistance. She eventually gave birth alone, the Associated Press reports.
“I am incensed and heartbroken after learning that a mentally ill client was forced to deliver her child alone in a jail cell,” Finkelstein writes.
According to Finkelstein, his client complained of contractions and bleeding. However, jail staff, who were fully aware that his client was pregnant, only attempted to contact an on-call doctor, instead of taking her to a hospital. The doctor said he would check on the inmate when he arrived at the jail.
“Six hours and 54 minutes after asking for help, a BSO (Broward Sheriff’s Office) tech notified medical staff that Ms. Jackson was holding her newborn baby in her arms, having delivered her baby without medication or the assistance of a physician,” the letter reads. “She was forced to deliver her baby alone.”
“In her time of extreme need and vulnerability, BSO neglected to provide Ms. Jackson with the assistance and medical care all mothers need and deserve. Not only was Ms. Jackson’s health callously ignored, the life of her child was also put at grave risk,” Finkelstein continued.
According to the American Journal of Public Health, 1396 pregnant women were admitted to prisons from 2016 to 2017. 92 percent of outcomes resulted in 753 live births, while there was also 46 miscarriages (6%), 11 abortions (1%), 4 stillbirths (0.5%), 3 newborn deaths, and no maternal deaths. Of the 753 live births, 30% were cesarean deliveries, and 6% were preterm.
It continues by saying that three quarters of incarcerated women are between the ages of 18 and 44, which is considered to be childbearing age. Two thirds are mothers and the primary caregivers to young children.
The study concludes that those in positions of power should work to optimize health outcomes for incarcerated pregnant women and their newborns, whose health has broad sociopolitical implications.
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