Two Pune women seek court nod to terminate pregnancy

Mumbai: Two women from Pune have approached the Bombay high court seeking permission to terminate their pregnancy, which is in the advanced stage. Both the petitioners have contended that their foetuses are suffering from different medical complications and chances of their survival are slim.

The women have also mentioned that it could pose danger to their lives if not terminated. The HC has asked a panel of doctors to examine them and give report about medical conditions.

One of the petitioners through her lawyer Priyal Sarda told the court that she got married in April 2017 and during a medical check up the doctor informed her that the foetus is having life threatening condition.

Advocate Sarda argued that the petitioner has right to preserve her life in view of the foreseeable danger to it, in case she allows the current pregnancy to run its full course. He informed the HC that the medical papers clearly suggest that the foetal kidneys are enlarged and bulky and echogenic. “The foetal urinary bladder is poorly visualised, which suggests non-functioning multicystic kidneys so the foetus will not be able to survive outside the uterus,” he said.

The petitioner approach the HC as her pregnancy has entered 28 weeks, which is beyond permissible abortion period of 20-week ceiling. However, it was argued that the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act allows termination of pregnancy after 20-weeks if it involves a serious risk to the life of the foetus or pregnant woman.

The second petitioner through advocate Kranti L.C. contended that she is 27-weeks pregnant but her medical tests confirm that the skull and brain of the foetus is suffering from serious ailment.

After hearing both the petitions the division bench of Justice Shantanu Kemkar and Justice G.S. Kulkarni directed the medical board of B.J. Medical College and Hospital, Pune to examine the women and file report within two days so that the court can decide their applications.