Madras HC allows 14-year-old rape victim to terminate pregnancy
The Madras High Court has allowed the termination of pregnancy of a 14-year-old girl, who was allegedly raped 5-months ago by a man known to her. When a petition from the Child Welfare Committee in Chengalpet came up for hearing recently, Justice T Raja directed the dean of Chengalpet Medical College and Hospital to terminate the pregnancy of the girl and preserve the foetus.
When Child Welfare Committee had stepped in
The parents of the girl had approached the Kancheepuram collector with a complaint that their daughter was raped about five months ago, following which the Child Welfare Committee had stepped in. At that time, a doctor's report had confirmed that the girl was raped. She was then taken to the Chengalpet Medical College and Hospital and a case was registered.
The home had moved the high court for immediate action
The home had sent a letter on April 12 to the Chengalpet Medical College, seeking medical advice on the continuation of pregnancy of the girl. A medical test had confirmed that she had a "single intra-uterine pregnancy of around 18 weeks' gestational age". The home had also suggested that the pregnancy be terminated to secure the girl's health and life.
It was advisable to terminate the pregnancy at the earliest
On April 28, V Vanitha, Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, had told the court that it was advisable to terminate the pregnancy at the earliest as adolescent pregnancies were prone to a higher risk of complications such as pregnancy-induced hypertension and increased infection.
