Postpartum Psychosis

I found it grotesque that Angela Thompson (“Ordeal of Postpartum Psychosis” by Ann Japenga, Feb. 1) was acquitted of infanticide by reason of insanity. How would one go about sanely killing one’s 9-month-old child?

Never mind the bizarreness of the Hamiltons actually signing a contract to not mention her psychotic episodes. The only manifestation necessary of their denial of reality is the madness of having another child, given the magnified odds of reoccurrence.

In a society that licenses driving a car, serving alcoholic beverages, and selling real estate, we recognize that individual rights are subjugated to those of the community. Should we ever become so enlightened as to realize that children are not property, that giving birth to and raising them are a privilege, one of the criteria for having a child might be that you haven’t killed any previous ones.

LILLI CRISTIN

Glendale