Mumbai couple wants abortion, court orders more tests
By Indo-Asian News Service on Friday, August 1, 2008
Filed Under: Health News
The Bombay High Court Friday ordered additional medical tests on a
25-week pregnant woman after the couple petitioned for abortion
following doctors' opinion that the child, if born, would have
lifelong cardiac problems. Abortions after 20 weeks are not allowed
under the law, unless the pregnancy threatens the mother's life.
A division bench, comprising Justice P.B. Mujumdar and Justice A.A.
Sayyad, said the doctors' team must give its clear and confirmed
opinion on the condition of the unborn child to enable the court take
a decision in the case.
The couple,stockbroker Haresh Mehta and his wife Niketa have contended
that as per the doctors' opinion, the unborn child has a heart
blockage that would require a permanent pace-maker and the baby's
right and left ventricles are also interchanged.
The case poses a direct challenge to the abortion law since Niketa is
now 25 weeks pregnant - well beyond the permissible limit for
abortion.
The Mehtas said they have a relative whose child suffers a serious
congenital defect, causing trauma to the parents.
They felt that instead of making their to-be-born child suffer with a
congenital heart problem all its life, it would be better to abort it.
But the couple was prevented by the law.
The Bombay High Court will hear the case Monday.
Haresh and Niketa, both 31, had a love marriage and were eagerly
anticipating the new arrival in the family.
Later, they learnt that the unborn child suffers from certain defects
in the heart. They deliberated over it at length, sought medical
opinion from different doctors and then decided to go for an abortion.
--
Anita Ghai
Reader
Department Of Psychology
Jesus and Mary College
Resi:- J12/68 B Rajouri Garden
New Delhi, 110027 India
110027
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