A mother of six with learning disabilities can be sterilised, a judge has ruled. The Court of Protection heard that the woman, who has an IQ of 70, had physical health problems and another pregnancy could put her life in danger.
Mr Justice Cobb was asked by health authority and social services bosses to authorise the sterilisation as it was in the best interests of the 36-year-old woman who has not been named to protect the identities of her six children, instead known as DD.
The Court, which deals with cases of people unable to make their own decisions, heard that the woman has no contact with her children and they are being looked after by carers.
Mr Cobb explained that the case was exceptional and not a point of eugenics.
Mr Cobb’s judgement ruled: “The ethical, legal and medical issues arising here are self-evidently of the utmost gravity, engaging, and profoundly impacting upon DD’s personal autonomy, privacy, bodily integrity, and reproductive rights.”
He added that the woman had a history of attempting to conceal pregnancies and births from health services, with two of her children being born at home. Doctors said that if the woman were to fall pregnant it could be life threatening as her uterus wall was so thin that it would likely explode if she were to fall pregnant, almost certainly leading to the child’s death.
Mr Cobb authorised medics to “remove [the woman] from her home and take steps to convey her to hospital for the purposes of the sterilisation procedure”. He said that these steps could include the forcing of entry to her home and using restraint if necessary.