The Family Court of Australia has approved the sterilisation of a disabled 11-year-old girl.
Family Court judge Paul Cronin found that the performance of a hysterectomy on the child was "in the child's best interests".
The girl has Rett syndrome, making her profoundly disabled and unable to talk or use sign language.
The court, sitting in Brisbane, heard the girl acted in a similar way to a three-month-old baby.
She has to be fed and cared for and has no bladder control.
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She has a special walking frame she has to be strapped into and has a person to help her.
Since she was born, the child - whose parents married in South America and came to Australia in 1991 - has had epileptic seizures but they are now under control through medication.
However, while the epilepsy is controlled, seizures can occur when she has a heavy menstrual period, which have been happening since she was nine years old.
The family was told by experts in March 2009 the recommended treatment would be a hysterectomy, the court heard.
But Queensland Health - acting on legal advice - said because of the irreversible nature of the procedure it could not be conducted without a court order.
Justice Cronin said in his judgment, publicly released on Tuesday, the procedure was "urgent and necessary".
"She is never going to have the benefits of a normal teenage and adult life," the judgment read.
"A fundamental consideration is ... the risks to her life as well as her general health."
