State investigators are considering charging an 18-year-old Lawrence woman with homicide following her failed attempt at a do-it-yourself abortion. Their decision will rest on the outcome of an autopsy of the baby, which was born somewhere between the 23rd and 25th week of pregnancy. Abortion after the 24th week is illegal in Massachusetts.

Regardless of whether the state decides to bring manslaughter charges, Amber Abreu showed an appalling lack of personal responsibility in the handling of her pregnancy.

This editorial is not an argument on the merits of abortion. In fact, abortions are reasonably safe, legal and readily available in Massachusetts. That's what makes Abreu's behavior reprehensible.

Abreu could have terminated her pregnancy with a legal abortion conducted by a trained medical professional. She knew such services were available - she had an abortion in the recent past.

Instead, according to a Department of Social Services report, she followed a friend's advice and took a prescription ulcer medication, misoprostol, also known by its brand name, Cytotec. Misoprostol is also used along with the abortion-inducing drug RU-486 to terminate pregnancies.

As a result of her decision, on Jan. 6 Abreu entered Lawrence General Hospital with abdominal pains and gave birth to a 11/4-pound live baby girl. According to police, Abreu left the hospital against the advice of doctors three hours later. The baby was transferred to a Boston hospital where it died four days later.

Abreu is charged with procuring a miscarriage, a felony in Massachusetts. Depending on the outcome of the autopsy - expected within a few weeks - she could be charged with manslaughter.

There is no shortage of people willing to excuse Abreu's behavior - and we have no doubt her case will turn into a national cause celebre if she is ultimately charged with manslaughter.

Abreu was confused, frightened, under pressure to succeed in school and unaware of the options available to her, she and others told DSS investigators. Abreu's mother had paid for another abortion for her just last March, and she was afraid to ask again.

But Abreu knew she didn't want a baby by her former boyfriend. That would spark too many painful memories, Abreu told the DSS. She said the Fitchburg man had left for the Dominican Republic after impregnating other women, including a 13-year-old. Abreu didn't want the baby, but she didn't want to take responsibility for terminating her pregnancy the right way.

As the result of Abreu's irresponsibility, a baby was born, one Abreu named Ashley as she filled out a death certificate after the baby died Jan. 10. According to Lawrence police, about 50 percent of the babies born at Ashley's birth weight survive. The four days Ashley lived were a painful struggle for survival.

That's what takes this case beyond personal tragedy and makes it a matter for the justice system.

All the benefits of "choice" were at Abreu's disposal. She failed to make use of them.