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Supreme Court allows 12-year-old Queensland girl to have abortion

Supreme Court allows 12-year-old Queensland girl to have abortion
The Supreme Court. (AAP)
A pregnant 12-year-old Queensland girl has been granted permission to have an abortion by the Supreme Court.
In a judgement published yesterday, the court accepted that the girl, only identified as Q, could have the procedure for her "mental and physical health", the Brisbane Times reports.
Abortion is illegal in Queensland but can be permitted if the mother's health is at risk.
The case was before the court to determine whether the nine-weeks pregnant girl was mature enough to consent to the procedure.
The court heard that the girl had found the pregnancy very stressful and had self-harmed, ran away from home and attempted suicide.
Both of Q's parents agreed that having an abortion would be the best thing for her and medical professionals agreed.
The child's father, who is around the same age as Q, was unaware of the pregnancy, the court heard.
Justice Duncan McMeekin accepted that Q was mature enough to grant consent and the abortion was necessary "in order to avoid danger to her mental and physical health".
In his judgement he wrote unless a child was found to be "mature" their parents could give consent on the child's behalf but he said when it came to abortion parental consent was "arguably not sufficient".
"I was principally concerned that it was her own view that she expressed, not a view that she felt she ought to hold because of any perception of pressure from others," Justice McMeekin wrote."
"I am satisfied that Q has reached her own independent view of what she thinks is the best decision to take."
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