In a first of its kind case in the medico-legal history of India, 25-week pregnancy of 14-year-old rape victim was successfully terminated by a team of doctors at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.
The process of abortion was initiated on Friday following the landmark judgement of the Supreme Court. A five-member team of expert doctors deputed by the apex court had given nod to abort the foetus.
Instead of surgery, doctors gave her medication to abort foetus. The process continued for almost 24 hours. The doctors also conducted DNA test of the foetus as per the court’s direction. The test was done to ascertain the father of the foetus which will be one of the evidences to prove accused guilty. On July 28, the Supreme Court 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 request for abortion, as the law generally permits abortion only till 20-weeks of pregnancy. The apex court had observed that she can undergo for an abortion if medical experts permitted.
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. Gujarat HC too turned down his request stating that though it had sympathy with the victim, it could not grant permission to abort the foetus conceived by her due to ghastly act of rape on her.
The minor had become pregnant after allegedly being raped by her doctor Jatin Mehta, when she had visited him to get treated for typhoid in February this year.