The Latest: Court questions attorney in feticide case appeal

Thirty-five-year-old Purvi Patel wants the three-judge panel to throw out the feticide and neglect convictions that resulted in her 20-year prison sentence.

At issue is Indiana's feticide statute, which the defense says was "passed to protect pregnant women from violence" that could harm their developing fetus, not to prosecute women for abortions.

Attorneys for an Indiana woman found guilty of killing the premature infant she delivered after ingesting abortion-inducing drugs are asking an appeals court to throw out her convictions.

At issue in a Monday hearing is Indiana's feticide statute, which the defense says was "passed to protect pregnant women from violence" that could harm their developing fetus, not to prosecute women for abortions.

Thirty-five-year-old Purvi Patel was arrested in July 2013 after seeking medical treatment after delivering a baby boy of at least 25 weeks gestation and putting his body in a trash bin.