Oklahoma Woman Sentenced To Four Years In Prison For A Miscarriage

An Oklahoma woman was convicted of first-degree manslaughter after suffering a miscarriage last year that prosecutors argued she caused with her drug use. 

A Comanche County jury convicted Brittney Poolaw, 21, earlier this month. She was sentenced to four years in prison. 

An autopsy on the fetus determined it had died around 17 weeks gestation before it was considered viable. A fetus is deemed viable at 20 weeks, when it could potentially survive outside the womb.

In October of last year, Poolaw was accused of causing the miscarriage she suffered on January 4, 2020. She gave birth at home, and she later admitted to using both meth and marijuana. She tested positive for both substances.

According to the Lawton Constitution, the medical examiner’s report listed the fetus’ cause of death as “intrauterine fetal demise due to maternal meth use.” The fetus’ brain and liver tested positive for meth, according to the toxicology report. 

An OBGYN testified for the state at Poolaw’s trial that while the meth could have affected the pregnancy, it may not be the cause of death for the fetus.