Catholic mother appeal after judge approves abortion for pregnant mentally ill daughter

The woman asked Court of Appeal judges to overturn Mrs Justice Lieven’s decision.

Three appeal judges are considering the case at a Court of Appeal hearing in London.

Mrs Justice Lieven concluded that a pregnancy termination was in the woman’s daughter’s best interests on Friday 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.

Three specialists, an obstetrician and two psychiatrists said a termination was the best option because of the risk to the woman’s daughter’s psychiatric health if pregnancy continued.

They said the woman’s daughter’s behaviour could pose a risk to a baby.

Specialists also said taking a baby from the woman’s daughter would cause greater psychiatric harm than terminating the pregnancy.

The woman’s mother, a former midwife, was against termination and said she could care for the child.

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

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

But Mrs Justice Lieven, who is based in the Family Division of the High Court, said a balance of evidence showed that termination was the best…