News

Man facing charge of fetal homicide

By Jeff Kurowski
Compass Assistant Editor

Elizabeth Ministry reaches out to victim Jeannie Hannemann, founder of Elizabeth Ministry, said she has received inquiries about ways to help Dr. Darshana Patel. "She's an amazing woman, but she does feel very much alone," said Hannemann. "I have started asking people to send her sympathy cards." Cards may be sent to: Elizabeth Ministry International Headquarters & Resource Center, 120 W. 8th St., Kaukauna, WI 54130.

KAUKAUNA -- It is a case that has drawn national media attention. Manishkumar Patel of the Town of Kaukauna is accused of causing an abortion by spiking his pregnant girlfriend's drink with RU-486 (Mifepristone). Patel is being prosecuted in Outagamie County under the Wisconsin fetal homicide law which classifies unborn children as potential crime victims.

"In charging Patel with attempted homicide, Outagamie County law enforcement is simply using common sense," said Peggy Hamill, state director of Pro-Life Wisconsin.

"All preborn children deserve equal protection under the law, without exception," she added. "Ironically, under Wisconsin law, if the woman had taken RU-486 by her own hand, there could be no charges. God willing, more law enforcement officials will work to protect the lives of preborn children in our state, wanted or unwanted."

"Without Wisconsin's fetal homicide law, there would be no basis on which to charge Patel in the death of the child," said Susan Armacost, legislative director of Wisconsin Right to Life, in a press release. "As horrible as this situation is for the child's mother, she can at least be comforted by the fact that her child is recognized as a victim under the fetal homicide law and that the death of her child is a crime in Wisconsin."

The mother in the case is Dr. Darshana Patel, no relation to the accused. Patel is a common Indian name. She did not ingest the drink on Sept. 17, 2007, two weeks before she miscarried, because she noticed a powdery substance in the drink Patel had given her. Her suspicion was due in part to a prior miscarriage 10 months earlier.

One day in November of 2006, Patel had given her a glass of milk that he said contained saffron. The following morning, Dr. Patel became ill and expelled her 14-week-old fetus, whom she later named Shankar. Patel denied any involvement in the baby's death.

Grieving from the loss, Dr. Patel, who also has a 3-year-old son with Patel, sought the services of Elizabeth Ministry of Kaukauna. Elizabeth Ministry, founded in 1991 by Jeannie Hannemann and the late Capuchin Fr. Kurt Gessner, provides support to women and their families dealing with pregnancy, birth, miscarriage, stillbirth, regretted abortions, infant or child death, crisis or special needs, adoption, fertility and infertility.

"We helped (Dr. Patel) by placing her baby in a proper burial vessel," said Hannemann. "Shankar was the first baby in our chapel. Even though she is Hindu, she was comfortable in the chapel during a week of mourning. Our service was really from the mother's heart. She asked questions about the Christian traditions. It was a beautiful witness about Jesus."

While the legal ramifications of the case draw considerable attention, Hannemann hopes the victims remain in people's hearts.

"I hope this story teaches people about the importance of giving respect, honor and dignity to children lost to miscarriages and in this case, most likely a murder. It's horrible what happened, but it's also a beautiful story about how the mother very much prayed to our God even though she is of a different faith."

The case was initially thought to be the first of its kind, but according to the Associated Press, a Virginia man was sentenced to prison for giving his girlfriend a drug that caused a miscarriage. The drug was not RU-486.

"The availability of any type of chemical abortion is way too much of an enabler for anyone who might lean towards victimization of women," said Hamill. "We've seen this obviously in cases of rape and incest. Victims of assault can be taken to a medical clinic or to a drug store. The evidence of their crime can be disposed of publicly or privately without bearing any responsibility. What makes this story so newsworthy to the general public is the forced abortion was of a chemical nature unknown initially to the mother."

Barbara Lyons, executive director of Wisconsin Right to Life, said there are still misconceptions about RU-486.

"Many people still believe that you can pop a pill and magically you are not pregnant," she said. "It's very complicated and dangerous. There is a lot of bleeding and cramping. You cannot take RU-486 without being in the care of a physician."

The case is an example of the rising concern of coerced and forced abortions, she added.

"A friend of mine has a Web site (www.teenbreaks.com) where teens share their abortion stories," said Lyons. "She is so alarmed because 80 percent of the stories now involve a coerced abortion. It's often the boyfriend or mom telling the birth mother she is going to have an abortion. The boyfriend may threaten harm or the mother tells her daughter she is going to kick her out of the house if she doesn't have an abortion. We are also seeing forced abortions more regularly. There is a case in South Carolina where the boyfriend and a friend made the woman drink turpentine. Forced abortions cross even more lines. The courts need to offer protection in all these cases."

"This is a very important case," said Hamill. "Tragically one baby has died, but it's also important to remember all the babies lost to the morning after pill or RU-486. Whether chosen or not chosen, regardless to the circumstances of conception, every preborn child has the right to life. It's important that people look at all babies aborted by chemical means as victims."