Her choice :HC allows abortion at 33 weeks

 

The “ultimate decision” in cases of abortion should “recognize the choice of the

mother” and the chances of a “dignified life” to the child, the Delhi high court said on

Tuesday as it allowed a woman to terminate her pregnancy of over 33 weeks due to

cerebral abnormalities in the fetus.

Delivering her verdict, justice Prathibha M Singh said that factors like the physical and

the mental health of the woman, the risk to the child if born with serious abnormalities,

coupled with the risk of surgery at a young age, should be considered apart from the

opinion of a medical boarAccording to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP)

Act, abortion is allowed only till 24 weeks but termination of pregnancy beyond 24

weeks can be permitted only if it is necessitated by the diagnosis of “substantial fetal

abnormalities”.

Allowing medical termination of the pregnancy, the judge said, “Keeping in mind, these

two factors, the court is of the opinion that the mother’s choice has been made in a

completely bonafide manner. There exist risks involved in the unborn child’s chances

of leading a dignified and self-sustaining life based on medical reports.”