Abortion plea: SC asks hospital to examine pregnant rape survivor
July 22, 2016  15:46
image
Just in: The Supreme Court has ordered the setting up of a medical board to examine the condition of an alleged rape surivor who wants to abort her 'abnormal fetus'. The court asked KEM medical college hospital in Mumbai to get the woman examined tomorrow by the board and file its report on Monday and see if abortion is feasible.

The court was examining a womans plea to terminate her 24-week pregnancy, which is prohibited by law, given the threat to her life.

A 26-year-old rape survivor had moved the top court seeking permission to terminate her pregnancy as her foetus suffered a birth defect that risked both their lives.

A bench headed by justice JS Khehar sought attorney general Mukul Rohatgis assistance and also called for Maharashtra state counsels presence in the matter.

The woman had challenged the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTP) that prevents abortion beyond 20 weeks, even in cases of fatal risk to the mother and foetus.

The petitioner told the court that the foetus suffers from anencephaly, a serious birth defect in which a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull. In the womans case, the foetus has not developed an abdominal wall, due to which, the babys intestines are growing outside.


Representational picture
« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES