Abortion Debate in Florida

[CrimsonTide4]

ORLANDO, Fla. — A severely retarded rape victim who was thrust into an abortion debate when Gov. Jeb Bush (search) said he wanted a guardian appointed for her fetus will carry her pregnancy to term under a plan approved by a judge Wednesday.

The medical plan for the woman — known as J.D.S. in court records — was recommended by her court-appointed guardian, Patti Jarrell.

Jarrell wrote in a report to Circuit Judge Lawrence Kirkwood that "completing the pregnancy/delivering the child is in J.D.S.'s best interest." Doctors have found J.D.S. to be in good health, and two sonograms indicate no obvious abnormalities with the fetus, Jarrell said.

The 22-year-old woman, who is more than six months pregnant, has the mental ability of a preschooler and has been living in the group home for 19 years. The guardian was appointed for her because she was unable to make decisions for herself.

Her case gained national attention last month after Bush said he believed a guardian should be named for the woman's fetus, apparently because of the possibility she might obtain an abortion. Neither the woman nor her guardian had sought an abortion.

Abortion-rights advocates attacked Bush's stance, calling it an attempt by the abortion opponent to force the woman to continue the pregnancy.

The judge has repeatedly said there is no basis in the law for appointing a guardian for a fetus.

Edward Jordan, an attorney for Jennifer Wixstrom, one of two women who want to be named guardian for the fetus, said he would continue to appeal "to make sure the interests of the child are protected during gestation."

The case prompted Bush to appoint a panel to study what needs to be done to protect mentally disabled adults from abuse.

The identification of J.D.S.'s attacker has been hampered because the woman was unable to consent to a DNA (search) test until someone was appointed to speak for her.