‘Forced’ sterilisation bid withdrawn

A mother who wanted to force her pregnant daughter who has learning disabilities to undergo forced sterilisation has decided to halt the court proceedings.

The woman had argued that it would be in her daughter’s “best interests” for her to be sterilised and wanted the procedure to take place after her daughter’s second child had been born.

Yet following the birth of the child, the mother—referred to in court as Mrs P—withdrawn her petition. The case in the Court of Protection was unusually heard in public due to its nature and the “considerable” importance it raised.

Announcing the decision to end proceedings, President of the Family Division Sir Nicholas Wall said: “P has given birth and there is no longer any application by her mother, Mrs P, for sterilisation and therefore the issue of sterilisation has gone from the case.”

LDT Editor

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