A Massachusetts judge who ordered an abortion and sterilisation for a pregnant woman with schizophrenia earlier this year has vigorously defended her decision. Christina Harms, who retired from the bench last month after 23 years, made a rare public defence. She concluded that the woman, a 31-year-old who suffered from delusions due to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, would choose to abort her child if she were mentally competent. “I believed then, as I do now, that she would elect to abort the pregnancy to protect her own well-being,’’ she said. “She would want to be healthy.’’

An appeals court reversed Judge Harms’ decision two months ago. Speaking out against this decision, Harms described the case as “a tragic set of circumstances for which no outcome would have been easy or obviously correct.’’ She criticised the appeals court’s decision as simplistic and unfair. ~ Boston Globe, Feb 21