Mentally-Ill Woman can Decide Whether to Continue Pregnancy or Not, Rules Court

A British High Court ruled that a mentally ill woman who is pregnant with a child will not be made to undergo an abortion as she has a choice whether or not to continue with the pregnancy. The unidentified woman lives in the south of England and was born with sickle cell anaemia, where her red blood cells are sickle shaped instead of being disc shaped. The High Court in London was told that she is 18 weeks pregnant and is in the bottom 1 percent of intellectual function due to her condition.

While it was argued that the woman may not have the mental capacity to make the decision on whether or not to continue with the pregnancy, psychiatrist Dr Stephen Tyrer said that she could make such a decision as people with such mental problems can make deeply personal decisions regarding some aspects of their lives.

Mr Justice Hedley ruled that the woman should have the choice of whether to continue with the pregnancy and said, “It is right to observe that both expert and professional and family evidence in the case is it would be in her best interests to continue with the pregnancy, but that is outwith the jurisdiction of this court.”

Source-Medindia