HC directs Safdarjung Hospital to assess termination of 29-week pregnancy
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has directed Safdarjung Hospital to constitute a medical board to assess if a 29-week pregnant woman with chronic kidney disease could undergo termination of pregnancy. The court described the case as a medical emergency, noting that the woman's life was at risk, though no foetal abnormality was diagnosed.
Justice Sachin Datta said in case the medical board opined that the termination of pregnancy was warranted, the hospital would proceed with the procedure on the 39-year-old woman.
“It is directed that a medical board be constituted at the Safdarjung hospital for the examination of the petitioner, for the purpose of assessing whether the present case qualifies for medical termination of pregnancy under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTP), 1971,” the high court said, news agency PTI reported.
In its May 29 order, the court called it a matter of medical emergency in which the woman’s life was in danger, though no foetal abnormality was diagnosed.
The woman moved the high court seeking permission to terminate her pregnancy, which was of 27 weeks at the time, as doctors opined a serious risk to her life if the pregnancy continued.
She moved the court as doctors expressed their inability to proceed due to the statutory restrictions under the MTP Act, limiting such procedures to 20 weeks in ordinary cases and 24 weeks in certain categories such as rape survivors.
The woman said she was undergoing treatment for her condition at a private hospital in Gurugram, and she learnt about her pregnancy only on April 22.
She subsequently approached Safdarjung Hospital in the national capital and over the following few weeks, the doctors conducted a series of tests, informing her about her 27-week pregnancy on May 19 and the complications it posed, reports PTI.
Safdarjung Hospital was represented by senior panel counsel Farman Ali.
During the hearing, the judge interacted with a doctor of the hospital through video-conferencing when she informed about the petitioner’s chronic kidney disease, warranting the termination of her pregnancy.
Also Read:Kerala HC Permits 32-Week Pregnancy Termination for Fetus with Neurological Abnormalities
