Court approves hospital's plan to carry out elective C-section on woman against her will

The woman was deemed by medical professionals to lack the capacity to make safe decisions about her health and obstetric care due to a delusional disorder

The judge said the orders, sought by the Health Service Executive (HSE), were necessary to vindicate the woman’s constitutional rights to life, bodily integrity and equality, while the interests of the unborn child also benefit. File picture

The High Court president has approved a hospital's plan to perform an elective Caesarean section on a young pregnant woman under general anaesthetic against her will.

Mr Justice David Barniville previously made an order permitting doctors to carry out an emergency Caesarean section in the event of a threat to the life of the woman, who is 35 weeks pregnant and in her early 20s. This is still permitted under the new orders he made this week, but the primary choice of the woman’s treating clinicians is to carry out an elective procedure under general anaesthetic before an urgent scenario arises.