Mother calls for 21-year-old daughter to be sterilised

A DECISION on whether a 21-year-old young mother with significant learning difficulties should be sterilised to prevent further pregnancies was adjourned at the High Court yesterday for expert evidence to be obtained.

The case involves an application by the mother of the woman — who is due to give birth to her second child today — for a declaration that the procedure would be lawful and in her daughter’s best interests.

She had hoped a judge at London’s Court of Protection would have been able to give a ruling yesterday to enable an NHS Trust to carry out the sterilisation at the same time as her daughter’s baby is delivered by caesarean section.