In a first-of-its-kind case in the medicolegal history of Madhya Pradesh, a 19-week pregnancy of a minor rape victim was successfully terminated by a team of doctors at Khandwa district hospital last week.
The Jabalpur High Court on December 7 (Thursday) allowed an immediate abortion, if medical experts permit, in the interest of the young girl as the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act does not allow abortion after the 20th week.
Sonography report
The court had observed that a sonography test report suggested that the girl was 19 weeks and three days pregnant.
“On December 7 evening, we received a copy of the High Court order from Khandwa Superintendent of Police Navneet Bhasin. We had only a few hours before us to decide as there is a restriction on conducting abortions after 20 weeks. A three-member team of expert doctors was deputed to abort the foetus,” said Dr. Ratan Khandelwal, Chief Medical Health Officer (CMHO) of Khandwa district.
At 10 a.m. on December 8 (Friday), the patient reached the hospital. After conducting a series of tests on the patient, thedoctors decided to give her medication to abort the foetus, instead of surgery. “The first dose to abort the foetus was given at 4 p.m. and the process continued for almost 12 hours. Finally, at 4 a.m, the patient’s pregnancy was medically terminated,” said Dr. Khandelwal.
‘Patient discharged’
According to the CMHO, the patient had minor fever after the abortion and she was discharged from the hospital on Monday after getting a clearance from the team of expert doctors.
