The doctors initiated process of termination of pregnancy on the 14-year-old rape victim at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on Friday after the landmark judgement pronounced by the Supreme Court. A five-member team of expert doctors deputed by the apex court had given the nod to the process of abortion.
Talking to mediapersons, Medical Superintendent MM Prabhakar said that the process began at around 9 am and it would take around 24 to 36 hours for it to complete.
“The doctors are not performing surgery on her, but she has been given medication to abort 25 week old foetus. We will also conduct DNA test of the foetus as per the court’s direction. The test is possibly to ascertain the father of the foetus which will be one of the evidences to prove accused guilty,” said Prabhakar.
On July 28, the SC had stood in favour of the teenage victim, who had been denied permission to abort the foetus by the sessions as well as the Gujarat HC. Both the courts had denied her permission for abortion, as the law generally permits abortion only till 20 weeks of pregnancy. The girl’s father had first moved the Sessions court seeking termination of pregnancy, saying she was in no position to take care of the child.
later, the Gujarat HC too turned down his request stating that though it had sympathy with the victim, it could not grant permission to abort the child conceived by her due to ghastly act of rape committed on her. The minor had become pregnant after being allegedly raped by her doctor Jatin Mehta.