The Supreme Court on Monday allowed a 22-year-old woman from Dombivali to abort her 24-week foetus on medical grounds. The court had ordered a panel of doctors at the civic-run KEM Hospital to re-examine the case and submit a report after the woman moved the court last week.
Panel reaches consensus
An ultrasound scan had revealed that the foetus had anencephaly, a serious birth defect in which parts of the brain and skull remain undeveloped. The panel of seven doctors came to the conclusion that abortion was advisable. The Supreme Court has ordered that the procedure be carried out in KEM Hospital.
“It was a tough phase for us. I hope no other couple has to go through such trauma,” said Santosh Pal, the woman’s husband. “She has not been eating well since she learnt about the baby’s illness.” Mr. Pal, who works as a typist, will admit his wife to the hospital on Tuesday, where labour will be induced through medication for abortion.
Two doctors in Dombivali had diagnosed the woman with foetal anomaly. However, the current abortion law allows termination of pregnancy only up to 20 weeks. Then Mr. Pal’s brother-in-law, a doctor, suggested that the couple visit gynaecologist Dr. Sangeeta Pikale in Mahim. “Had it not been for Dr. Pikale, we would not have known which way to go. She directed us throughout,” said Mr. Pal.
‘Need for guidelines’
As a precedent, Dr. Pikale used a case where a rape victim with an anomalous foetus was allowed to terminate her pregnancy last year. Dr. Pikale said, “But all such patients are not going to reach me always. There has to be a process in place so that such cases do not have to be directed to the court every time.” She said broad policy guidelines needed be drawn soon.
Several amendments drafted in the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill are yet to be passed.
