Pregnancy is supposed to be met with care, privacy, and support. But for many—especially Black, Brown, and low-income patients—it has become a point of entry into surveillance and state control.

In this episode of Torn, we are joined by attorney Julia Livingston to unpack how medical settings are operating as gateways into the child welfare system. Drawing from her recent article, Julia walks us through two lawsuits that expose how hospitals, shelters, and social service agencies share information—often without consent—and trigger investigations before a child is even born.

From blanket drug testing of pregnant patients to the creation of “high-risk pregnancy” lists, this conversation reveals how routine medical care can quickly turn into system involvement—with lasting consequences for families.

We also explore:

• How mandated reporting in healthcare settings fuels unnecessary investigations

• The role of consent—and what patients are (and aren’t) told

• How fetal personhood and privacy rights are being redefined

• The disproportionate impact on Black and Brown patients

• What happens to trust when healthcare begins to feel like surveillance

For advocates and attorneys, this episode raises urgent questions about constitutional rights, unlawful searches, and how to challenge cases that begin in hospital settings.

At its core, this conversation asks:
What does it mean for families when seeking care becomes a risk?

🎧 Listen for a critical look at how surveillance is reshaping pregnancy—and what it means for the future of family regulation.

Read: Even Blue States Are Doing Unlawful Surveillance of Pregnant Patients Now