HC orders probe into C-section on rape victim
Prayagraj, Sept. 25 -- The Allahabad high court has ordered an inquiry into how a C-section was performed on a 13-year-old rape victim after it had directed doctors to terminate her pregnancy, observing that the doctors were prima facie guilty of "deliberate negligence".
A bench of Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Garima Prashad on Wednesday directed the Principal Secretary, Medical and Health, government of Uttar Pradesh, to conduct the inquiry and submit a report within two weeks. The inquiry will examine the doctors involved, the minor and her mother, and the investigating officer. The court, in its order, said, "It is a fit case where appropriate proceedings may be directed to be drawn against all of them for having played with the life of a rape victim whose application was for medical termination of pregnancy."
The case concerns the minor, whose pregnancy had crossed the statutory 24-week limit for medical termination. A medical board had assessed the pregnancy at about 29 weeks and two days and said the foetus had crossed the stage of viability.
It also noted that both continuing and terminating the high-risk pregnancy involved medical risks.
According to the order, the minor had told the court that she did not want to continue the pregnancy as it would further affect her mental health. Considering her age, the circumstances of the pregnancy and her physical and psychological condition, as well as the wishes of the minor and her mother, the HC on September 21 directed the chief medical superintendent of SRN Hospital of Motilal Nehru Medical College in Prayagraj to carry out the termination....
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