- (1.) Petitioner No.1 - Meera Santosh Pal, is 22 years old, has approached this Court under Article 32 of the Constitution of India seeking directions to the respondents to allow her to undergo medical termination of her pregnancy. She apprehended danger to her life, having discovered that her fetus was diagnosed with Anencephaly, a defect that leaves foetal skull bones unformed and is both untreatable and certain to cause the infant's death during or shortly after birth. This condition is also known to endanger the mother's life.
(2.) By order dated 11.1.2017, while issuing notice to the respondents, this Court gave a direction for examination of petitioner no.1 by a Medical Board consisting of the following seven Doctors : 1. Dr. Avinash N. Supe, Director (Medical Education and Major Hospitals) and Dean (G&K) - Chairman 2. Dr. Shubhangi Parkar, Professor and HOD, Psychiatry, KEM Hospital 3. Dr. Amar Pazare, professor and HOD, Medicine, KEM Hosptial 4. Dr. Indrani Hemantkumar Chincholi, Professor and HOD, Anaesthesia, KEM Hospital 5. Dr. Y.S. Nandanwar, Professor and HOD, Obstetrics, KEM Hospitals 6. Dr. Anahita Chauhan, Professor and Unit Head, Obstetrics and Gynecology, LTMMC and LTMG Hospitals 7. Dr. Hemangini Thakkar, Addl. Professor, Radiology, KEM Hospital.
(3.) As on 12.1.2017, she was into her 24th week of pregnancy. This is also borne by the report dated 12.1.2017, received from the Director (ME & MH)'s Office, Seth G.S. Medical College & KEM Hospital, Parel, Mumbai - 400012.;