By permitting the procedure to proceed, the Kochi, Kerala High Court has helped a couple halt treatment for their 31-week-old fetus, which has congenital brain and head abnormalities.
Kerala High Court permits the abortion of fetuses with abnormalities that are older than 31 weeks. This decision was made by Justice Shoba Annamma Eppen, who cited a medical board report stating that the unborn child would have severe physical defects.
Additionally, the board stated that there may be risks to her mental health if she continues the pregnancy.
The court concluded that denial of termination “can only delay the inevitable and prolong the suffering of the family” after taking into account the facts, material on file, established legal principles on the matter, and the Medical Board’s recommendations.
It mandated that the pregnancy be ended at Kottayam Medical College.
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The medical college was ordered by the court to form a medical team to carry out the procedure right away.
It stated, “The medical team will use the best method recommended by medical science to terminate the pregnancy and save the life of the first applicant, based on their discretion and best judgment.”
It mandated that the team perform a final scan to confirm the fetal abnormalities before ending the pregnancy treatment.
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In addition, the court stated that “the hospital shall render all necessary assistance including incubation and treatment in any super-specialty to ensure that the fetus survives” if the fetus is born alive.
It further stated, “The petitioners will take full responsibility and bear the expenses of the child and the child will be given the best treatment.”
The petitioners argued that the fetus had congenital brain and head abnormalities, including characteristics suggestive of microcephaly, which carried a high risk of severe and permanent physical and neurological disability.
Without any text editing, this article was produced from an automated news agency feed.
