Examine condition of 25-week pregnant woman seeking pregnancy termination: SC directs AIIMS Delhi

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to constitute a medical board to examine the physical condition of a 25-week pregnant woman, who wishes for pregnancy termination due to financial constraints.  

A vacation bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma ordered the medical board to furnish its report by May 27.  

This order was issued in response to a plea by the woman, who stated that she discovered her pregnancy on May 17.

The bench said it will list the matter for next Monday.

Under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, aborting a foetus that is more than 24 weeks old can be allowed only in cases of substantial foetal abnormality as diagnosed by a medical board or if an opinion is formed in good faith for the purpose of saving the life of the pregnant woman.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that criticising the approach of the medical board of JJ hospital for declaring a minor rape survivor unfit for pregnancy termination of 28 weeks citing the absence of congenital abnormalities in the fetus, the Supreme Court observed that the report of the Medical Board had not dealt with the impact of the pregnancy on the physical and emotional well-being of the minor.

"The MTP Act protects the RMP and the medical boards when they form an opinion in good faith as to the termination of pregnancy. The medical board, in forming its opinion on the termination of pregnancies must not restrict itself to the criteria under Section 3(2-B) of the MTP Act but must also evaluate the physical and emotional well being of the pregnant person in terms of the judgment," observed bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

Also Read:Completely Viable Foetus: Delhi HC rejects 20-year-old woman's plea to terminate 28-week pregnancy