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Dilemma over Romanian girl's abortion plan

  • Story Highlights
  • 11-year-old Romanian girl was raped by her teenage uncle
  • Girl 20 weeks pregnant -- too far along to have abortion in Romania
  • Abortions are legal in Britain up to 24 weeks
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(CNN) -- Romanian authorities plan to decide Friday whether to allow an 11-year-old girl to have an abortion after she was raped by her teenage uncle, the Romanian Ministry of Health said Thursday.

The girl is now 20 weeks pregnant -- too far along to have an abortion in Romania -- and her parents have said they'll take her to Britain for an abortion if the Romanian authorities deny her one at home, a spokeswoman at the health ministry said.

It is illegal to have an abortion in Romania after 14 weeks unless the pregnancy poses problems for the mother's health, said the spokeswoman, who asked not to be named. Abortions are legal in Britain up to 24 weeks.

"If the mother wants to go to the UK (with her pregnant daughter), it's up to her," said the spokeswoman.

The uncle has subsequently gone missing, the ministry said.

A spokesman for Britain's Home Office said while it cannot comment on individual cases, the girl is free to travel to Britain without a visa because Romania and Britain are both members of the European Union.

If the girl were to have an abortion, however, she would have to pay for a private doctor rather than using the state-run National Health Service, said the spokesman, who declined to be named in line with policy.

Citizens of EU member states are allowed to use the NHS for emergency treatment but not for standard care, a spokeswoman for Britain's Department of Health said.

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