Judge gives doctors go-ahead to abort mentally-ill woman’s baby despite mother’s religious objections

Mrs Justice Lieven has concluded that a pregnancy termination is in the woman’s best interests after analysing evidence at a hearing in the Court of Protection, where issues relating to people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions are considered, in London.

Bosses at an NHS trust responsible for the woman’s care had asked Mrs Justice Lieven to let doctors perform an abortion.

Specialists said a pregnancy termination was the best option.

The woman’s mother, a former midwife, was against abortion because of her Catholic faith and said she could care for the child.

A social worker who works with the woman said the pregnancy should continue.

Lawyers who represented the woman also said she should be allowed to give birth.

But Mrs Justice Lieven said a balance of evidence showed that termination was the best option.

The judge said some evidence in the case was “heartbreaking”.

She heard that the woman, who is in her twenties and is 22 weeks pregnant, had the mental age of a child aged between six and nine.

Mrs Justice Lieven had considered the terms of the 1967 Abortion Act, which says termination may be performed up to the 24th week of pregnancy, and the 2005 Mental Capacity Act before reaching a decision.

She analysed the case at a public hearing but said the woman, who lives in the London area, cannot be identified in reports of the case.

The judge also said the…