The child was suffering from Arnold Chiari Type II syndrome

A malformed baby boy born to a 28-year-old woman, whose abortion petition was rejected by the Supreme Court, died in the city a fortnight ago.

The woman, Sarika Ghatge (name changed), had sought permission to abort the child suffering from Arnold Chiari Type II syndrome in the 27th week of her pregnancy. The apex court rejected her plea stating that the baby could be ‘born alive’.

Ms. Ghatge’s father said, “What has the court achieved? My daughter had to face the trauma of seeing her child die in front of her eyes.”

On July 2, Ms. Ghatge delivered the child at KEM Hospital in Parel after the Supreme Court turned down her petition on March 27. The petition was rejected after the court sought the opinion of doctors at the hospital.

The parents were asked to take the baby boy home after he was kept in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for a few days. The doctors said no medical intervention could improve his condition.

Dr. Nikhil Datar, the gynaecologist who helped Ghatge with her petition, said Indian law, which allows medical termination of pregnancy only up to 20 weeks, prolonged a mother’s agony. Dr. Datar said, “Ultimately who has been punished? The mother and the baby. The woman was left to suffer after being told that her baby was suffering from severe anomalies.”

Raise limit

The medical fraternity has been demanding an increase in the abortion limit to 24 weeks. Dr. Bipin Pandit, a gynaecologist, said, “Many foetal abnormalities can be diagnosed only after 20 weeks. Certain deformities can be diagnosed earlier, but by the time the family comes to terms with the issue, they near the 20-week deadline. The only way to resolve such situations is to increase the abortion limit to 24 weeks.” Dr. Pandit added that the drugs to induce abortion in the second trimester have considerably improved and have become safe and more accessible.

Dr. Pandit said women who are forced to deliver malformed babies and undergo the trauma of seeing them die, are vulnerable to postpartum depression.

He said, “It is very simple. They are expecting a bundle of joy and suddenly someone tells them that there is a problem. But after diagnosing the problem, the solution has been denied to the woman. Is it fair?”