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Should postpartum psychosis be a legal defense when Moms kill kids?

The Dallas News reports on legislation (HB 3318) by Texas state Reps Jessica Farrar and Garnet Coleman that would make postpartum disorder a legal defense for women who kill their children, allowing jurors to hear testimony at the sentencing phase about the medical issues surrounding postpartum psychosis, potentially sentencing the offense as a state jail felony if they believe that's what spawned the tragic event ("Proposed bill would recognize postpartum psychosis as defense for Moms who kill infants," March 23): If lawmakers approve the measure, Texas would be the first state to have an infanticide law, said George Parnham, the Houston attorney who defended [Andrea] Yates. "It's something every civilized country has on its books," said Parnham, a strong proponent of the legislation...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on March 23, 2009 (boomark / email).