On Monday, an Alabama woman was convicted of choking an 8 month pregnant woman and, while the soon-to-be mother was still alive, as prosecutors allege, cut the baby from her womb. The woman’s defense attorneys argued that she was suffering from pseudocyesis, which causes a woman to falsely believe she is pregnant and exhibit outward signs of pregnancy. As cnn.com states, “they portrayed her as a victim of severe mental illness whose delusion of being pregnant was being challenged, causing her to enter a dreamlike state when the killing took place.” This insanity defense did not work and now the woman may be facing the death penalty.

Do you believe the woman’s insanity defense should have prevailed? Under what circumstances do you believe a defendant should be allowed to use this defense?