Madras HC permits termination of 31-week pregnancy due to serious foetal brain abnormalities
- Case
- Not stated in source
- Court
- Madras High Court
- Bench
- Not stated in source
- Citation
- Not stated in source
- Source
- SCC Times
The Madras High Court quashed the Medical Board's refusal to permit termination of a 31-week pregnancy. The Court allowed the termination after detecting agenesis of the corpus callosum and bilateral ventriculomegaly in the foetus, acknowledging the mother's difficult decision.
Ratio Decidendi · Legal Principle Established
The court can override a Medical Board's refusal to permit pregnancy termination when serious foetal abnormalities are detected, even at an advanced gestational stage, to uphold the mother's right to make a painful decision regarding her body and the future of the child.
Practice & Procedural Impact for Advocates
Advocates should highlight the severity of foetal abnormalities and the emotional distress of the mother when challenging Medical Board decisions. Litigants seeking late-term abortions due to foetal anomalies may find relief by demonstrating the profound impact on the mother's physical and mental health.
Key Legal Takeaways
- 1Madras High Court allowed termination of a 31-week pregnancy.
- 2The decision was based on detected foetal brain abnormalities (agenesis of the corpus callosum and bilateral ventriculomegaly).
- 3The Court quashed the Medical Board's refusal, prioritizing the mother's decision.