A British judge, Nathalie Lieven, on Friday, ordered a mentally disabled woman to abort her 22-week pregnancy despite objections from the woman and her mother.
The woman who is described to be in her 20s has developmental disabilities and the mental age of a 6- to 9-year-old. She is reported to be under the care of an NHS trust, as part of the country’s National Health Service.
Although the judge admitted in the ruling that it’s an “immense intrusion” to order the abortion against the woman’s will, he argued that it’s in the best interest of the woman.
Lieven said, “I am acutely conscious of the fact that for the State to order a woman to have a termination where it appears that she doesn’t want it is an immense intrusion.
“I have to operate in [her] best interests, not on society’s views of termination.”
She added that the woman would be unable to care for the child on her own and that she was concerned about the risks posed by the woman’s behavioural and psychological problems.
She said the woman may have to leave home if the baby was placed in the care of the woman’s mother.
The child could also potentially be placed into foster care.
She said she believed the woman would suffer more distress if the baby was taken away, rather than if it was terminated.
