(Editorial - Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

West Virginia’s Prosecuting Attorneys Association injected a little common sense and decency into a conversation that reached intrusive absurdity after Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Tom Truman earlier this month made the chilling claim that women could face potential criminal charges if they do not inform law enforcement of miscarriages.

“Call your doctor. Call law enforcement, or 911, and just say, ‘I miscarried. I want you to know,'” Truman said to WVNS-TV in a June 2 interview.

Ludicrous, isn’t it?

To be sure Truman’s claim didn’t do any more damage than it already had, the association made a point to say that miscarriages should NOT incur criminal liability.

“The West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Association wishes to clarify that recent public statements made regarding this subject do not reflect the consensus, official position or legal interpretation of the association, its officers, board members or members of its Legislative Committee,” Tyler County Prosecuting Attorney Luke Furbee, president of the association, said.

Under the law passed in West Virginia in 2022, miscarriages are not considered to be abortions. But proving what a slippery slope these discussions can become, Truman told WVNS some county prosecutors had a different interpretation of the law and were talking about bringing charges against women who have miscarriages and do not report them.

Such thinking is frightening and appalling, if it is true that Truman was among a group of multiple prosecutors who felt the same way. He went down a horrifying road when he began to talk about penalties.

“The kind of criminal jeopardy you face is going to depend on a lot of factors,” Truman said. “What was your intent? What did you do? How late were you in your pregnancy? Were you trying to hide something, were you just so emotionally distraught you couldn’t do anything else? If you were relieved, and you had been telling people, ‘I’d rather get ran (sic) over by a bus than have this baby,’ that may play into law enforcement’s thinking, too.”

Imagine wanting women to believe that at what might be one of the most difficult times in their lives — while they are likely grieving — county prosecutors want them to also have a false fear they’ve broken the law.

Raleigh County voters will have to decide for themselves about this look into Truman’s character. But in the meantime, thank goodness the state Prosecuting Attorney’s Association made its position clear.

A woman in West Virginia does not need to fear she could be considered a criminal if she suffers a miscarriage.