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A mentally disabled woman has been ordered by a British judge, Nathalie Lieven, on Friday to abort her 22-week pregnancy (five months) 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 countryโs National Health Service.
Although the judge admitted in the ruling that itโs an โimmense intrusionโ to order the abortion against the womanโs will, he argued that itโs in the best interest of the woman, Fox news reported.
Lieven said, โI am acutely conscious of the fact that for the State to order a woman to have a termination where it appears that she doesnโt want it is an immense intrusion.
โI have to operate in [her] best interests, not on societyโs views of termination.โ
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 womanโs behavioural and psychological problems.
She said the woman may have to leave home if the baby was placed in the care of the womanโs 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.
