HC asks AIIMS to set up medical board as woman seeks termination of 27-week pregnancy
New Delhi Dec 22 PTI The Delhi High Court Wednesday asked the AIIMS to constitute a medical board to examine a woman who seeks to terminate her 27-week pregnancy saying the foetus suffers from abnormalities and that the chances of its survival are remoteTerminating a pregnancy beyond 24 weeks is illegal in the country barring some exception Justice Rekha Palli asked All India Institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS to set up the board at the earliest to examine the woman and give a report on the feasibility of terminating the pregnancyThe court listed the matter for further hearing on December 27In her petition filed through advocates Sneha Mukherjee and Surabhi Shukla the 33-year-old woman sought the courts permission end her pregnancy under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy MTP ActThe plea said that the doctors have explained to the woman that the condition of foetus is critical and that the chances of survival of the baby are less than 50 per cent and it could even collapse immediately after birth due to heart malfunctionBy enforcing the MTP Act without an exception for the health and welfare of the pregnant mother the respondents authorities have failed to protect the right to life by leaving desperate women carrying severe fetal abnormalities no choice but to seek unsafe abortions which contributes significantly to Indias poor maternal mortality rate the plea saidIt said the woman has suffered immense mental and physical anguish as a result of the unreasonable 24-week restriction under the MTP ActIn September this year the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Act 2021 which provides for enhancing the upper gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for special categories of women including survivors of rape victim of incest and other vulnerable women like differently-abled and minors was enforcedThe MTP Amendment Act also allows for termination in the case of fetal abnormalities beyond 24 weeks gestation Section 2B of the Amendment Act introduces medical boards to be notified in each state that shall assess cases of MTP for fetal abnormality post 24 weeks gestation PTI SKV SKV TIR TIR
New Delhi Dec 22 PTI The Delhi High Court Wednesday asked the AIIMS to constitute a medical board to examine a woman who seeks to terminate her 27-week pregnancy saying the foetus suffers from abnormalities and that the chances of its survival are remoteTerminating a pregnancy beyond 24 weeks is illegal in the country barring some exception Justice Rekha Palli asked All India Institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS to set up the board at the earliest to examine the woman and give a report on the feasibility of terminating the pregnancyThe court listed the matter for further hearing on December 27In her petition filed through advocates Sneha Mukherjee and Surabhi Shukla the 33-year-old woman sought the courts permission end her pregnancy under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy MTP ActThe plea said that the doctors have explained to the woman that the condition of foetus is critical and that the chances of survival of the baby are less than 50 per cent and it could even collapse immediately after birth due to heart malfunctionBy enforcing the MTP Act without an exception for the health and welfare of the pregnant mother the respondents authorities have failed to protect the right to life by leaving desperate women carrying severe fetal abnormalities no choice but to seek unsafe abortions which contributes significantly to Indias poor maternal mortality rate the plea saidIt said the woman has suffered immense mental and physical anguish as a result of the unreasonable 24-week restriction under the MTP ActIn September this year the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Act 2021 which provides for enhancing the upper gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for special categories of women including survivors of rape victim of incest and other vulnerable women like differently-abled and minors was enforcedThe MTP Amendment Act also allows for termination in the case of fetal abnormalities beyond 24 weeks gestation Section 2B of the Amendment Act introduces medical boards to be notified in each state that shall assess cases of MTP for fetal abnormality post 24 weeks gestation PTI SKV SKV TIR TIR
