Niketa and baby spark fresh look at laws for abortion

Months after Mumbai-based teacher Niketa Mehta lost her petition-and then her baby days later-her case...

Months after Mumbai-based teacher Niketa Mehta lost her petition 8212; and then her baby days later 8212; her case, in which she had sought permission to abort her foetus that had already crossed its 20th week, will be discussed at the conclave of obstetricians and gynaecologists in January.

The doctors will take a fresh look at the Medical Termination of Pregnancy MTP Act and try to sort out questions raised by Niketa.

During a panel discussion on controversies in gynaecology in the All India Congress of Obstetrics 038; Gynaecology AICOG to be held in Jaipur, leading doctors from India and other SAARC countries will discuss the questions around MTP raised by Niketa .

In a case that led to a nationwide debate on abortion laws, Niketa and her husband Haresh, with the help of their gynaecologist Dr Nikhil Datar, had filed a petition seeking permission to abort her foetus after learning it had a heart disorder during an echocardiogram in the 24th week of pregnancy.

Their lawyer pleaded that surgery to implant a pacemaker and then further surgeries to change it every five years would be economically unviable for the Mehtas, besides being traumatic for the child. The MTP Act, 1971, does not permit termination of pregnancy after 20 weeks. The court rejected her plea. Days later, Niketa had a miscarriage.

8220;There will be a discussion on the Niketa case, MTP Act and abortion. It is difficult to say as of now what the inference will be. We may draw up guidelines or suggestions,8221; said Dr Mridul Gehlot, the organising secretary for the Jaipur meet.

The AICOG, held under the Federation of Obstretics and Gynaecological Societies of India FOGSI, is an annual conference of leading gynaecologists and obstetricians. To be held between January 4 and January 8 next, the main themes are nutrition in pregnancy, pelvic reconstructive surgery, modern technology in women8217;s health.

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As many as 7,000 doctors have already registered for the Jaipur conference.

As a prominent medical body, FOGSI deals with the Union and state governments on several issues related to women. Though initially reluctant to review MTP in the wake of the Niketa case, the Union Health Ministry had eventually said they would consider reviewing the MTP Act.8221;Depending on the outcome of the discussion, we could take it up with the government,8221; said Dr Gehlot.

Dr Datar, who is attending the event, said he had not received any specific instructions from the organising committee to speak on the Niketa case.

He is expected to speak about negligence and other legal issues. He said he would be glad to speak on the Niketa case as he had researched the topic. 8220;I would even be glad if the organisers discuss the issue. I would appreciate such a move as I personally think doctors are not sufficiently mobilised on the topic,8221; said Dr Datar.