India's top court allows abortion of 25-week foetus

Source: Xinhua| 2017-07-04 17:16:41|Editor: Yamei
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NEW DELHI, July 4 (Xinhua) -- India's top court permitted a woman to undergo abortion in the 26th week of her pregnancy on grounds that unborn foetus had severe cardiac complications and could endanger mother's life, officials said Tuesday.

The court while accepting the medical opinion of seven-member board of doctors on Monday said the woman should abort her 25-week-old foetus "forthwith."

The woman and her husband approached India's Supreme Court after hospitals in West Bengal had refused to terminate her pregnancy as it has crossed the 20-week limit.

"The report submitted by Calcutta's SSKM Hospital to the court advised abortion on the ground that the mother would suffer "severe mental injury" if the pregnancy continued," an official said. "The report further said that the child, if born alive, would require multiple surgeries."

In India, the pre-natal diagnostic test Act prohibits medical termination of pregnancy after 20- week period. The law, however, provides an exception for such termination beyond 20 weeks if there is a danger to the mother's life.

Several petitions filed by individuals is pending before the apex court challenging the constitutional validity of the 20-week limit, citing several ailments are detected after it.

The woman in her petition had stated "denial of her right to an abortion has caused her extreme anguish" and has forced her to continue her pregnancy despite knowing that her baby may not survive.

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