A Pennsylvania woman has been charged with third-degree murder in the death of her newborn, months after she attempted to abort the baby.
Police allege that Chemari Truax attempted to abort her child in November, but the abortion failed. Then, on March 7, she gave birth at her home when she was 23 weeks pregnant. Although the baby was born alive, Truax did not seek medical help until one hour had passed. The child later died of cardiac arrest at the hospital.
According to a police report, Truax did not realize she was about to give birth, explaining “that she had been feeling nauseated and as if she was going to have diarrhea so she went to the bathroom,” when she went into labor.
“Truax said the infant was breathing, but she did not believe the baby would survive. She did not seek or summon medical assistance [for the infant],” the report said.
“Truax cut the baby’s umbilical cord, but did not clamp it. After approximately an hour of the infant continuing to breathe, Truax went to UPMC Williamsport,” police further reported.
Police say that Truax didn’t realize that her November abortion had failed until she went to the hospital in mid-February with abdominal pains. She also tested positive for cocaine at that time.
Had Truax’s infant received immediate medical care, the child may have had a chance of survival — the survival rate of infants born at this age is about 55%. Live Action News has featured some of their amazing stories.
While tragic, the case also highlights the hypocrisy of pro-abortion arguments. Abortion in the state of Pennsylvania is legal through 23 weeks — the same age as Truax’s child. Furthermore, Truax would have faced no charges had the abortion she attempted been successful. Yet, she is charged with the murder of this very same child because it was born alive in her home and the child was delayed medical care for an hour. If that baby had been born alive during an abortion, an abortionist may have refused to provide medical care and received no punishment for the born child’s death — as is the case for many abortion survivors.
