Paton v United Kingdom 3 EHRR 408 1980: Father’s rights in termination of a women’s pregnancy
Abortion: whether father a victim- is closely affected by termination of wife’s pregnancy- he may claim to be a victim. Unborn child- right to life (art 2): subject to an implied limitation justifying termination of a pregnancy in its early stages in order to protect the life and health of the woman at that stage. Failure to consult father: Denial of respect for family life (art 8): was justifiable under 8(2) as being necessary for the protection of the rights of the mother. Right to respect for family life cannot be interpreted so widely as to confer on the father a right to be consulted or to make applications about an abortion his wife intends to have performed.