Delhi HC listed out the factors to be considered by the medical board while giving opinion on pregnancy termination

In cases of termination of pregnancy, the Delhi High Court said on Tuesday that the opinion of the medical board is of utmost importance to assist the court and, therefore, such an opinion must be comprehensive and not sketchy.

According to Justice Prathiba M Singh, the speed of the medical board's report coupled with its quality is of the utmost importance when seeking termination of pregnancy.

According to Justice Singh, there ought to be some factors on which the opinion should be given:

The medical condition of the fetus

In addition to giving scientific or medical terms, a layperson's understanding of the effects of such conditions should be provided. Alternatives include annexed medical literature.

The medical condition of the woman

It is essential that the Medical Board interacts with the woman in a friendly manner and assesses her physical and mental condition. This should be stated in the opinion.

Risks involved for the woman

In my opinion, the risks associated with continuing a pregnancy or terminating it should be briefly discussed.

Other factors

The opinion should inform the court of any other relevant factors which may have a bearing on the decision to terminate the pregnancy.

An order was issued by Justice Singh allowing a 26-year-old married woman to terminate her pregnancy medically. She approached the court after an ultrasound revealed abnormalities in the fetus after being pregnant for more than 33 weeks.