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The Times podcast: The sketchy test sending moms to prison

A flotation test is performed at Mexico City's Institute of Forensic Science
A flotation test is performed at Mexico City’s Institute of Forensic Science. In this case, the lungs float.
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There’s a test used across Latin America to determine whether a baby was born dead or alive. And depending on the result, it could allow prosecutors to bring murder charges against mothers who might have had a still-born birth. And there’s an even bigger problem. This test is 400 years old and very unreliable.

Today, how the so-called flotation test is sending women to prison for killing their newborns, even when they say they’re innocent. Read the full transcript here.

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Host: Gustavo Arellano

Guests: L.A. Times foreign correspondent Leila Miller

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An unreliable 400-year-old test is sending mothers to prison for killing their newborns

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About The Times

“The Times” is produced by Shannon Lin, Denise Guerra, Kasia Broussalian, David Toledo and Ashlea Brown. Our editorial assistant is Madalyn Amato. Our engineers are Mario Diaz, Mark Nieto and Mike Heflin. Our editor is Kinsee Morlan. Our executive producers are Jazmin Aguilera, Heba Elorbany and Shani Hilton. And our theme music is by Andrew Eapen.

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