Maharashtra rape survivor stable after SC allows abortion of 24-week foetus

In a landmark judgment on July 22, the SC allowed the woman to abort her foetus, which suffered from anencephaly--a birth defect in which a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull.

A 23-year-old rape survivor who was allowed to terminate her 24-week foetus by the Supreme Court last month is “medically alright”, doctors said.

In a landmark judgment on July 22, the SC allowed the woman to abort her foetus, which suffered from anencephaly--a birth defect in which a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull. (HT File Photo)

The pregnancy had posed a danger to the woman’s life and she had moved the top court for abortion as the existing laws in the country permit termination of pregnancy only up to 20 weeks.

“She has recovered well and is yet to come for a follow up. We have been very careful about protecting her identity even from her immediate neighbours,” said Dr Reena Wani, professor of gynaecology and obstetrics, at the RN Cooper Hospital.

In a landmark judgment on July 22, the SC allowed the woman to abort her foetus, which suffered from anencephaly--a birth defect in which a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull. Babies with anencephaly are either stillborn or die within a few hours of birth, doctors said.

The apex court’s decision was based on an evaluation report submitted by a team of medical experts from KEM Hospital, which said it was not viable for the woman to go ahead with the delivery. “The patient is psychologically depressed. It is better that the pregnancy is aborted,” the report had mentioned.