Med board to weigh cancer survivor's MTP of 24+ weeks

MUMBAI: Bombay HC directed that an independent medical board be set up to decide on the termination of an over-24-week pregnancy of a woman who is in remission from breast cancer.

"In our view, the interest of justice would be served by passing the following order," said Justices Girish Kulkarni and Advait Sethna on Thursday. They directed JJ Hospital dean to appoint a board of experts, including a psychologist, to examine her and submit a report to the vacation court.

The woman, aged 40, moved HC to permit medical termination of pregnancy as she had crossed the 24-week legally permissible limit. Her petition stated that in Aug 2020, she was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer. Between March and Aug 2021, she underwent treatment that included 8 rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, and 21 cycles of radiation, which she completed in April 2021. She was informed that the treatment would have a permanent impact on her future chances of conceiving.

After experiencing abdominal pain, an April 25 sonography report revealed she was 23 weeks pregnant. Since her pregnancy was over 20 weeks, on May 3, she approached the JJ medical board constituted under the MTP Act. On May 6, the board declined permission, citing no lethal congenital anomaly noticed in the foetus.