Woman to deliver fifth child after HC suggests counselling

TNN | Mar 14, 2020, 04.43 AM IST

Madurai: A woman who sought pregnancy termination after a failed family planning surgery, agreed to deliver her fifth child after the Madras high court suggested counselling to her. The court also directed the Madurai district collector to examine the possibility of disbursing financial support to the woman and providing temporary government job to her husband.

The petitioner, a 35-year-old woman who was married in 2007 had three daughters and a son. On April 14, 2014, she underwent family planning surgery at a primary health centre in Virudhunagar district. Recently, when the petitioner underwent medical examination, she learnt that she was pregnant.

The petitioner moved the high court Madurai bench seeking compensation for medical negligence and also sought termination of pregnancy. Hearing the plea, Justice C V Karthikeyan suggested counselling to the woman.

Pursuant to the counselling, the doctor submitted a report stating that the petitioner had agreed to have her fifth child.

Taking note of the report, the judge observed that the court shall take up the responsibility of her family since the family planning surgery which she underwent voluntarily ended in failure. Since the woman’s family is presently residing in Madurai district, the judge gave the direction to the Madurai collector.