Mumbai: The Bombay High Court was on Wednesday told that a 15-year-old girl, seeking medical termination of her over 28-week pregnancy, has decided to deliver her child after JJ Hospital medical board said there is a threat to her life due to severe anaemia.Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande observed that the girl and her family members were made aware of the consequences of MTP and “they agreed that she shall continue the pregnancy, and after she gives birth to a child, it shall be handed over for adoption.”The girl moved the HC through her father, seeking permission to terminate her “forced pregnancy” after the Nashik district civil hospital’s medical board advised against MTP. It cited reasons including haemoglobin level of 9.1 grams per deciliter (g/dl), which may endanger her life during induction of labour. In pregnant women, 11-14 g/dl is considered normal. The judges said JJ board has observed that the girl is severely anaemic with a haemoglobin level of 5.6 g/dl. When she reported to the hospital on Tuesday, she was transfused with one unit of blood by way of primary immediate treatment. She is in an “advanced stage of gestation and an intervention for terminating the pregnancy at this stage is fraught with risk to her life, as also to her long-term wellbeing.”While her condition was discussed with the relatives and the girl herself, “she was found to be comfortable in discussing the issue.” When the option of continuing the pregnancy was put forth, with necessary antenatal care and delivering a full-term baby, which would give sufficient time for the mother’s health to improve, they “unanimously” agreed to follow it. The board remarked “that the family is not perturbed with the hypothetical or ostensible possibility of social stigma, but are more concerned about the victim’s health.” The judges said the board also offered her indoor treatment till delivery, but the family refused. Her advocate, Vivekanand Krishnan, said the family is from Yeola and “it is very far for them” to travel to Mumbai. Dismissing the petition, the judges directed the girl “to complete her full gestation period” and allowed her to “deliver the child at the hospital of her choice.” They preferred the Nashik civil hospital as she was examined by those doctors and “they are aware of her medical condition, including low levels of haemoglobin.“
