Date:05/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/05/stories/2008080557751100.htm

National

“Broader discussion on abortion laws to be held”

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss on Monday said the government would hold a broader discussion on abortion laws and issues such as euthanasia to address “grey areas.”

A final decision would be taken on the outcome of the discussions, he said reacting to the Bombay High Court verdict dismissing Niketa Mehta’s plea for aborting her 26-week foetus after doctors informed her that the child suffered from a congenital heart ailment.

“As of now, we have to go by the existing laws. We cannot say there is need to amend the abortion-related laws going by one case,” the Minister told journalists at the end of the fourth meeting of the Mission Steering Group of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) here. He said he was yet to go through the entire judgment.

The Minister, however, sympathised with the Mehta family. He said the heart condition of the foetus could have been detected earlier, in which case a decision would have been easier.

On the outcome of the Mission Steering Group meeting, Dr. Ramadoss said it was decided to employ Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) across the country; at present they were employed only in 18 focus States. By year-end, all villages would have ASHAs.