CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court has permitted the termination of pregnancy of a woman who was diagnosed with major congenital malformation — “amniotic sac rupture resulting in leakage of amniotic fluid causing high risk to the mother (patient) due to severe womb infection as well as to the foetus who can have poorly developed lungs and reduced chances of survival at birth”.
Prognosis for carrying on with such pregnancy was not good but she had to knock on the doors of the high court because the foetus was little over 21 weeks and medical termination of pregnancy was not legally permissible.
Justice Lisa Gill allowed termination of the pregnancy after examining the opinion of the Permanent Medical Board for Medical Termination of Pregnancy, PGIMER, Chandigarh. Justice Gill has passed these orders while disposing of a petition filed by a woman from Panchkula.
“She shall remain present at the office of the medical superintendent, PGIMER, Chandigarh on Friday at 10 am for admission and necessary steps to be taken for medical termination of pregnancy. Needless to say, due care and medical treatment be made available to the petitioner,” ordered the judge.
The HC has also made it clear that in case she needs any further care after the procedure, the same be also provided to her. On Monday, the HC asked the board to examine the petitioner for an evaluation for advisability of medical termination of pregnancy.
In its report, which was opened in the HC on Thursday, the board stated that the petitioner gives history of leakage of amniotic fluid from the fourth month of pregnancy. Severely reduced amniotic fluid before 22 weeks of gestation can lead to poorly developed lungs of the fetus (pulmonary hypoplasia) and reduced chances of survival at birth.
