The Bombay High Court on Monday formed a medical board to assess the possibility of terminating the 24-week pregnancy of a married woman, enabling her to undergo cancer treatment.

Justices Ajay Gadkari and Neela Gokhale of the division bench observed that the woman was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer during her pregnancy.

"We require the authorities at the K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai to constitute a Medical Board as prescribed by Section 3(2D) of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act to examine the Petitioner and ascertain as to whether the Petitioner No.1 is fit to undergo termination of her pregnancy," the bench said.

"The Report shall also reflect the effect of the pregnancy on thePetitioner's physical and mental health after taking into consideration her actual and reasonably foreseeable environment," the judges said, while adjourning the matter till July 3.

According to the petitioner, during her pregnancy, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer with multiple liver metastases. Her doctors advised against chemotherapy due to her pregnancy. She submitted a letter dated June 26, 2024, from a doctor at the Tata Memorial Centre to the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of the King Edward Memorial Hospital, requesting evaluation and consideration for terminating her pregnancy.

The matter will be heard on July 3.

XYZ vs State of Maharashtra