ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- A doctor for a woman whose baby died from alcohol poisoning minutes after birth is angered that his patient will avoid a seven-year prison term if she completes an alcohol treatment program.
But treatment advocates say the sentence is the proper way to help Sherri Lohnstein battle alcoholism.
Lohnstein, a 34-year-old from Lincoln County, pleaded guilty last week in St. Charles County Circuit Court to involuntary manslaughter.
She was sentenced to four months in a substance abuse treatment program in the Missouri Department of Corrections. If she completes the treatment program, a judge can place her on probation, but she also will have to complete drug court, a program that monitors defendants to help them kick addictions.
"It's very frustrating," said Paul Tapia, the doctor who delivered Lohnstein's baby and had told Lohnstein to stop drinking while pregnant. "I think the help is there; I think that people don't utilize it. I just feel bad for the children. ... They aren't even born yet and they are already getting abused."
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Sunday that some experts and counselors are applauding the decision to give offenders like Lohnstein treatment instead of prison time.
"The emphasis should be on prevention, getting women to understand the dangers and if they can't stop drinking, how to get help," said Melinda Ohlemiller, director of prevention services at St. Louis Arc, an agency that helps those with developmental disabilities, including fetal alcohol syndrome.
Prosecutors say Lohnstein was drunk the day she gave birth, with a blood-alcohol level of 0.18 percent. Her daughter Zreanna was born several weeks prematurely on Sept. 9, 2006, with a blood-alcohol level of 0.17 percent, and died of acute intoxication.
Lohnstein also smelled of alcohol during one checkup, and her blood-alcohol level registered 0.22 percent. In Missouri, a driver is considered legally drunk at 0.08 percent.
Lohnstein allegedly told a nurse she thought a few drinks wouldn't hurt her unborn child.
Zreanna's father, James Harrison, said Lohnstein shouldn't have to go to prison to do her treatment.
"I think she's already done her time," Harrison said. He declined to comment further. Lohnstein spent about six months in jail while waiting for her case to be resolved.
St. Charles County Prosecutor Jack Banas said that Lohnstein had to admit what she did was wrong and that she had a problem, as part of the sentence.
"It's a far step to say she got away with it," Banas said. "If she completes the program and gets probation, that probation is not going to be an easy probation. You can give people the opportunities; it's up to them to take advantage of those tools."
Treating mothers for alcoholism is the best way to ensure they don't endanger other children after they are released from prison, Ohlemiller said. Some pregnant women might inquire about treatment, not mention that they are pregnant, and hear that a treatment center is full.
But the law says that if a clinic takes federal funding, a pregnant woman moves to the top of the center's priority list, said Ohlemiller, who also is an advisory board member for a federal initiative devoted to preventing and treating fetal alcohol disorders.
Tapia, Lohnstein's doctor, said he's unconvinced.
"I think she got away with it. This is a case where the baby died because of what she did. I think four months is nothing," he said.
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I personally, would like to know when the law is going to get passed for people to have to take a test to be able to have a child. I am so sick and tired of people, no...better yet, MONSTERS bringing innocent lives into this world and completely mistreating, in some cases like this, MURDERING them! It kills me! I would literally let someone slice and dice me! SLOWLY!!!! If it meant my Prince was able to live!!! Just pass the law already!
1 LAW - Any set of consenting adults MUST pass (undetermined) test in order to conceive a child. Bottom line. Any infractions will not be tolerated. And disobeyers of this law willl be made infinitely infertile. Period.
Sorry ladies if this seems harsh, but my weak hear just can't take anymore.
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On a lighter note, My 4 YEAR OLD son said SOME of the funniest things I have ever heard.
1. "Mommy...Why did you eat me?"
"What are you talking about baby? I never ate you? Where did that question come from?"
"Well I was in your belly before I was a REAL baby. So why did you eat me?"
There is absolutely no right answer for this!!!!! Too FUNNY!!!!
2. "Mommy. Santa isn't going to get fat until he eats all of those cookies on Christmas, right?"
"That's right hunny."
Several minutes later.
"Mommy, I have an idea."
"Whats that dude?".....yes...I call my son dude ;-)
"Maybe we can get Santa a GIFT CARD for cookies so he can get fat BEFORE Christmas. Santa likes cookies ALL the time."
"Everything will be OK in the end. If EVERYTHING is not OK, it is not the end"
The Doctor is upset because
The Doctor is upset because he told her to stop drinking while pregnant. What?? If that is all he did, he is partially to blame. This is a disease - I wonder what else he did to prevent it. Did he call anyone, check on treatments, monitor her more? Yes, she is to blame, but he needed to be proactive as well. The bottom line is a baby is dead - how sad. Everyone involved, including the Father should bear some responsibility.
KarilouMomof2 is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com living in Tempe. Her daughters are 9 and 6.
Well, I think that this is
Well, I think that this is the right thing to do. It is better to put a mommy threw a drug addiction treatment center than to take her away from her child. Think about the child too. Growing up with no mommy? That will be horrible. I think that the mommy knows her lesson now.