[thoughtomator]

The child is a child, regardless of location... no question about that.

The question is, what other medical procedure might the government require, and in what circumstances? When is a doctor's recommendation law?

[GrandEagle]

The question is, what other medical procedure might the government require, and in what circumstances? When is a doctor's recommendation law?
Very valid points. I also would share your concerns about forced medical procedures, and what they would use as justification for those procedures.
Some protection from abuse could be keeping it a state issue. Very close to the local voters and grand jury action. In Alabama our grand jury system prevents numerous laws from actually being enforced. I would strongly oppose any federal laws, rules, guidelines, or anything else on the issue. Murder is a state issue.
I would also oppose any state laws presenting so called "guidelines". That is why we have judges and jurys of peers. The prosecution should have to make the case to a jury on a case by case basis on why this was murder.

[!1776!]

The question is, what other medical procedure might the government require, and in what circumstances? When is a doctor's recommendation law?

One possible test could be when the doctor's recommendation is uniquely designed for the welfare of a dependent individual. This leads directly back to when would an unborn child "earn" the status of an individual. Unfortunately this case is tragic and it is too late for semantics to make a difference.

[tickles]

I think that they should have kept her for observation, better to keep track of the babies, with the option of doing a c section if things became critical.

I'd also have to wonder why inducing labor couldn't have been done, perhaps if they had been delivered earlier they would have both survived, since she refused labor they could have given her that option if they thought it was critical that the babies be delivered soon. From this it sounds as if the only option she was given was a c section, not an attempt at labor and normal delivery, with surgical intervention only if necessary.