Judges reject forced abortion

BOSTON

- A Massachusetts court yesterday overturned a ruling by a judge who ordered a mentally ill woman to undergo an abortion against her wishes and be sterilized.

The Massachusetts Appeals Court said the woman, who has schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, had described herself as "very Catholic" and made it clear she did not want an abortion.

The ruling reverses a decision by Family and Probate Court Judge Christina Harms, who found that the 32-year-old woman was not competent to decide whether to get an abortion.

Harms found the woman would choose to end her pregnancy if she were competent and agreed to appoint her parents as guardians "for the purpose of consenting to the extraordinary procedures of abortion and sterilization," the Appeals Court said.

The Appeals Court ruling does not identify the woman, who is believed to be about five months pregnant.

The judge reasoned that if the woman were competent, she would opt for an abortion to benefit from medication that otherwise could not be given to her because of its effects on the fetus.

The Appeals Court said the judge also directed the clinic to sterilize the woman at the same time "to avoid this painful situation from recurring in the future."

The Appeals Court reversed the order, saying that no one had requested it and that the judge "appears to have simply produced the requirement out of thin air." The appeals judges sent the case back to the lower court.

Harms, who recently retired, could not be reached for comment yesterday.