Santa Catarina Court Allows Abortion for Fetus Incompatible with Life

A court in Santa Catarina, Brazil, has authorized the therapeutic termination of a 17-week pregnancy after medical examinations confirmed the fetus had no chance of survival outside the womb. The decision, issued by the Family Court in a city in the state's western region, was not publicly identified by name or specific court to protect the woman's privacy. Medical reports revealed the fetus had the most severe form of brain malformation, alobar holoprosencephaly, along with a complete absence of a nose and an extensive cleft lip and palate. The termination was approved following a review of medical findings and a favorable opinion from the Public Prosecutor's Office (MPSC). The procedure was granted with the pregnant woman's consent and is to be performed in an authorized hospital. The judge cited that while abortion is generally prohibited in Brazil, exceptions exist for fetuses incompatible with extrauterine life, aligning with Supreme Court understanding. The court also noted the woman's high-risk pregnancy, including obesity, gestational diabetes, and difficult-to-control hypothyroidism, as well as her psychological state and family situation as the caregiver for another dependent child.