Cuttack: Orissa high court on Monday directed that the 16-year-old rape survivor, who is over 31 weeks pregnant, be examined by experts at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar at the earliest to assess whether there was any possibility of termination of pregnancy after Capital Hospital cautioned against the process. The HC has asked AIIMS-Bhubaneswar to submit its report by May 6, when the matter is scheduled for next hearing.The HC was hearing a plea filed by the rape survivor’s parents seeking termination of what they termed an “unlawful pregnancy” and state-funded medical care.The single judge bench of Justice B P Routray directed that the minor be taken to the director of AIIMS-Bhubaneswar at the earliest. “The Director of AIIMS shall examine (sic) the minor girl by a team of expert doctors or such medical board, if any, to give opinion as to (sic) any possibility of termination of pregnancy of the minor girl,” Justice Routray specified in the order.On the day, a medical report was submitted by a team of doctors from Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar, in compliance with a May 1 order, where the HC had directed the authorities to examine whether any safe alternative method can be used to end the pregnancy of the minor girl, after a medical board ruled out termination at the advanced stage of over 30 weeks. The petitioners’ counsel, Ramakanta Sarangi, had suggested the possibility of administering an intracardiac potassium chloride (KCL) injection as an alternative.But Monday’s report, prepared after examining the minor’s case records, cautioned against termination at such an advanced stage, citing significant risks to her health and life.The medical board observed that procedures such as intracardiac injection of KCL, generally used in early stages of pregnancy or selective foetal reduction, are not commonly performed at such a late gestational age in otherwise normal pregnancies. It also pointed out the absence of adequate expertise and facilities at the Capital Hospital to carry out such specialised interventions.The doctors further highlighted that the minor’s Rh-negative (“O” negative) blood group increases the likelihood of complications like isoimmunisation, which may adversely impact her future pregnancies. Other risks flagged in the report include failed induction of labour, operative delivery, postpartum haemorrhage, disseminated intravascular coagulation and the possible need for multiple blood transfusions.Significantly, the experts noted that delivering a dead foetus at this stage could pose greater danger to the mother than delivering a live baby. During the hearing, Professor Sasmita Behuria reiterated that termination at 31 weeks and six days would be highly risky and could endanger the minor’s life.The HC was informed that facilities for administering KCL injection are not available at Capital Hospital, but may be accessible at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar, particularly in its foetal medicine department.Provisions of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021, do not permit a woman to terminate pregnancy if it has crossed 24 weeks. The woman is required to seek the high court’s permission to do so.
