A PNG couple were last year jailed for five years for causing the death of their unborn child, in a case that raises serious questions about Australia's decision to send a Nauru rape victim there for an abortion.

On Friday, Fairfax revealed the case of "S99", a young African refugee who was raped while she was in the midst of a violent epileptic seizure on Nauru.

Now, she is nine weeks pregnant and desperate to have an abortion.

The woman, whom Australia transferred from Christmas Island to Nauru two years ago, was granted refugee status by the island nation some 18 months ago.

But abortion is illegal on Nauru and the woman has sought a termination in Australia, arguing it has a responsibility to provide her with the medical care she needs.

Despite denying that Australia has any duty of care towards her, Australian authorities flew her to PNG to undergo a termination last week.

This is even though the PNG criminal code specifies that a woman who attempts to "procure her own miscarriage" faces a maximum seven years' jail.

Now, the woman is refusing to undergo the procedure in PNG, and her lawyers have successfully asked Australia's High Court and Federal Court (where the case is now being heard) to block Australia doing anything with the woman until the matter goes to trial later this month.

The woman's lawyer, Ron Merkel, has raised the spectre that Australia could be in breach of PNG's laws by sending S99 to have an abortion in Port Moresby.

He told the High Court of Australia last week: "it would appear if the Commonwealth were involved in that activity, it is probably illegal and she herself would be committing a criminal offence ... not only is her health at risk ... by what is being proposed by the Commonwealth, but she runs the risk of committing a criminal offence."

Last year, the PNG legal fraternity and women's groups were alarmed when a PNG couple were sentenced for killing their unborn child.

In a case understood to be the first prosecution for abortion in PNG, but one that could establish case law in the matter, Leoba Devana was sentenced in October to five years' jail for terminating her third pregnancy at about 16 weeks.

She was convicted of the unlawful killing of an unborn child.

Her husband received a similar sentence for helping buy the drugs to induce abortion through the back door of a local clinic.

Neither Immigration Minister Peter Dutton nor opposition immigration spokesman Richard Marles responded to a request for comment.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young called on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to offer the African woman safe passage to Australia for a termination.

"My heart breaks for this young woman, and the government should be offering her every level of possible care, not dumping her in Port Moresby," Senator Hanson-Young said.

"The trauma that this woman has been put through must be unimaginable. This is happening over and over again on Nauru and it must be stopped immediately."

In a statement, Labor immigration spokesman Richard Marles said the opposition was "deeply concerned" by the case.

"The Australian government must make it clear this woman will be provided with medical treatment, including access to a termination, if that is her request in Australia."

Last year, the case of Abyan, a Somali woman also allegedly raped on Nauru, caused national outrage after she begged Australia for an abortion and was flown here after weeks of prevaricating, before being deported without having undergone the procedure after she asked for more time.

The High Court issued an emergency order last week that Australia not move S99 anywhere but to Australia, and not do anything that would cause her pregnancy to be terminated in PNG.

In the Federal Court on Thursday, Justice Mordecai Bromberg extended that order, and set a hearing date of April 28.