Georgia Woman’s Murder Charge After Abortion Pill Sparks Legal and Ethical Debate

 

Anti-abortion and abortion rights protestors demonstrate on the anniversary of the decision by the United States Supreme to overturn Roe v. Wade, outside the U.S. Supreme Court, in Washington, June 24, 2024.

A Georgia woman, 31‑year‑old Alexia Moore, is facing a rare murder charge after authorities say she took misoprostol, a medication used to induce abortion, leading to the premature birth and death of her infant. The case has drawn national attention because it is among the first in Georgia to charge a woman with murder in connection with ending a pregnancy since the state enacted its restrictive 2019 abortion law, which bans most abortions after about six weeks of gestation. 

Investigators say Moore was between 22 and 24 weeks pregnant when she went to a hospital reporting severe abdominal pain. The infant was delivered alive but survived for only about an hour. Police allege Moore had taken both misoprostol and oxycodone prior to arriving at the hospital. Moore has also been charged with drug possession. 

Legal experts and advocacy groups argue that Georgia law does not support murder charges for self-managed abortions, calling the prosecution “unprecedented” and “cruel.” A judge recently granted Moore a $1 bond on the murder charge, signaling skepticism about the viability of the case. Prosecutors must still decide whether to pursue an indictment.