According to News.com, a British judge has recently ruled that a woman with low IQ could be forcibly sterilized for her own good.
The woman in this case is suffering from autistic spectrum disorder and a 'mild to borderline' learning disability. She has an IQ of 70.
She had previous cases in which she tried concealing her pregnancies and that two of her children were born at home in 'grossly unhygienic circumstances'. The 36 year old woman has a tragic and complex obstetric history. It is also known that in one secret birth, her partner had used barbecue tongs as forceps which caused cuts to the baby's head.
Her partner also has a low IQ of 62 along with learning disabilities. Both of them have been together since 2008 and her partner is the father of 5 of her children.
Last year, during her 6th pregnancy, Mr Justice Cobb ruled that the woman could be sedated and that her 6th baby delivered by caesarean section after the local authorities applied to the courts to intervene. As of now, according to the experts, there is a huge risk to the woman of a future pregnancy, and that it is highly likely to lead to her death.
According to News.com, the woman had experienced complications during her previous pregnancies. Complications such as fits, stroke, infections, prolapsed bladder, severe hemorrhaging, etc.
The doctors say that her uterus is now 'tissue paper thin' and that with the next pregnancy, her uterus could rupture.
All 6 of her children were recently put up for adoption, and 5 of them have already been adopted by different families. All of her children are aged between 6 months and 12 years.
The court was recently told that after the woman's 2011 stroke, her behavior has worsened and that she is not able to appreciate the risks that she faces with her pregnancies.
Mr Justice Cobb declared that the woman lacked the mental capacity to make decisions regarding contraception. He also ruled that the authorities can take the 'necessary and proportionate steps' to remove her from her home and take her to be sterilized.
