Rape survivor discharged after aborting foetus

After the Supreme Court allowed a 21-year-old alleged rape victim to medically terminate her 24-week-old pregnancy, the abortion was carried out at R.N. Cooper Hospital and the victim was discharged on Monday.

Doctors at the civic-run Cooper hospital confirmed that they had successfully terminated the 21-year-old rape survivor’s pregnancy on Wednesday. Based on medical tests conducted by doctors at K.E.M.

Hospital, Parel, the woman was granted permission by the apex court to abort her 24-week-old foetus, which had multiple congenital deformities. The foetus did not have a skull or liver and its intestines were floating in the absence of protective covering inside the stomach. “The abortion went well. The patient is doing fine and has been considered fit for discharge,” said Dr Rina Wani, a professor of gynaecology and obstetrics at Cooper Hospital.

Dr Avinash Supe, the director of medical education, said,

“She was quite happy to go home. She is fit. We are giving her counselling and the sessions will be continued with us. She is happy but also sad at the way things have turned out. Other than that, she is recovering and we are supporting her move.”

A team of doctors carried out detailed medical and psychological tests from the day she was admitted. Earlier, she was mentally disturbed and emotionally down, but after conducting various psychological sessions, she is fine and has shown the courage to step out.

“The reports suggest that she has coped well with the sequence of events. There is nothing to worry about as of now. She was extremely anxious before the procedure, which is expected, but things have settled now,” said Dr Supe.