‘Grave complications’: AIIMS cites condition of child born under similar circumstances

The AIIMS submitted that “In addition to…grave medical complications…the child born alive has, as of date not been accepted by any Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) for care, and the prospects of the child being adopted in future are severely diminished — if not negligible — given the severity and permanence of the child’s conditions.”

The baby weighed “755 grams” which is “critically low, reflecting the consequences of extreme prematurity”, the plea pointed out.

It added, “The child required mechanical ventilation for approximately six to seven months following birth, indicative of critical and sustained respiratory failure from the very onset of extra-uterine life.”

AIIMS said its “team tried to wean the child from ventilator on many occasions and failed due to Tracheobronchomalacia and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) — a severe chronic lung disease directly caused by extreme prematurity — resulting in prolonged inability to sustain independent respiration”.

The institute said “the child suffered multiple episodes of sepsis during NICU admission, each constituting a life-threatening systemic infection requiring aggressive medical intervention” and “was diagnosed with Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) and underwent surgical PDA ligation — a significant cardiac surgical procedure”.

It said, “finally, the child underwent tracheostomy on 24.12.2025 (a hole is created in the windpipe of the child and tube is inserted to facilitate breathing) and remains tracheostomised on room air”.

The review plea said “the child is now approximately one year of age and is entirely dependent on tracheostomy care for survival. Care of tracheostomy requires constant medical supervision. The child is at risk of life threatening complications if the tube gets accidently blocked or it comes out. Moreover, the child cannot speak.” It “has been diagnosed with Optic Disc Pallor, indicating significant and likely permanent vision impairment.”

AIIMS said “the child has been assessed to have Global Developmental Delay with a current developmental age of only 4 to 5 months — despite being chronologically approximately one year old — indicating severe neurodevelopmental compromise”.

The plea pointed out that “the treating medical team at AIIMS has documented” many “anticipated long-term complications and comorbidities for this child, each expected to persist for the child’s lifetime”.

AIIMS cited this as “real-world, empirical and documented proof” of the risks associated with abortion after the gestational 24-week period, but the SC went on to dismiss the review petition on April 29 and the curative petition on Thursday.