Delhi HC Allows Woman To Abort Pregnancy After 24 Weeks Due To Foetal Abnormalities

Pregnancy abortion after 24 weeks: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted permission for pregnancy abortion after 24 weeks to a woman, citing severe foetal abnormalities. The order, at the same time, noted that the medical procedure possibly posed a risk to the woman since she is a cardiac patient undergoing other treatments.

As per the Press Trust of India, the woman had, in March, appealed in court seeking termination of her pregnancy. It was discovered during her pregnancy examination that the foetus suffered from "facial haemorrhage and hydrocephalus." A medical board of doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) was constituted by court. They found that though the procedure posed a risk to the woman, abortion was recommended.

While passing the order permitting the abortion, Justice Prathiba M Singh addressed the woman's husband, asking him if he was aware of the complications that could possibly arise with the medical procedure of terminating the pregnancy. The order was subsequently passed.

Court Allows Pregnancy Abortion After 24 Weeks: Spotlight On New MTP Bill

The Parliament recently passed the Medical Termination Of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill 2020, seeking to modify the original Act from 1971. Once the Act is amended, the upper limit on abortions will be officially raised to over 24 weeks from conception in special cases (such as extreme foetal abnormalities). The current Act allows the upper limit of termination between 12-20 weeks. Here are differences between the two legislations.

As per official notifications from the government, the Act will also extend to “vulnerable women including survivors of rape, victims of incest and other vulnerable women (like differently-abled women, Minors).”

Addressing the Rajya Sabha last month, Dr Harsh Vardhan had put forward the Amendment saying, “We have done extensive consultations on this bill, including with all concerned stakeholders, NGOs, and also FOGSI (Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India).” Read the specifications of the Bill here.