The Kerala High Court on Friday permitted the Thrissur Government Medical College Hospital Superintendent to do the needful in accordance with the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act on a plea by the parents of a minor girl for termination of her pregnancy.
Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan while disposing of a writ petition seeking permission to terminate the pregnancy observed that the court was not in a position to order termination of pregnancy in view of the report of the medical board. As per the report of the medical board, the foetus is 26 weeks of gestational age and is free from congenital anomalies. The chance of survival of the baby of this level of maturity is high.
The court directed the Superintendent to take a call on the matter within one week.
The court also ordered that if the newborn was alive, then the Superintendent and the hospital concerned would have to assume full responsibility to ensure that such child was offered the best medical treatment available.
If the parents of the child were not willing to or not in a position to assume the responsibility of the child, then the State and its agency would have to take full responsibility of the child and offer it medical support, the court ordered.
The court also ordered that if any request was given by the officer investigating the criminal case in this matter, the authorities would take tissues for a DNA test.
