‘The Mehtas have been extremely courageous. I think there should be justice for Niketa’

When school teacher Niketa Mehta became pregnant with her first child with stock-broker husband Haresh...

When school teacher Niketa Mehta became pregnant with her first child with stock-broker husband Haresh, she was thrilled. Initially all went smoothly, till they were told after an echocardiography of the foetus that their unborn child had a heart block requiring the child to live with a pacemaker all his/her life.

Faced with the prospect that their child might require at least five pacemaker implants through life — each costing Rs 1 lakh — the Mehtas approached the Bombay High Court to allow an abortion though Niketa had already crossed 20 weeks till which a medical termination of pregnancy is legally allowed. They wanted “a healthy child”, they said.

Dr Nikhil Dattar, their gynaecologist and one of the petitioners in the matter, backs their decision. “The questions about the risk of life of the mother need to be seen in comparison with the quality of life of the child,” he says.

While disheartened by today’s verdict, he adds: “There needs to be a change in the law. We have not yet decided on approaching the Supreme Court in the matter. However, she still has another 10-12 days till the abortion can be done if you go by similar laws in other countries.”

The Mehtas have said they would not want to bring into the world a child who will not be able to live normally. Haresh said they debated before considering an abortion. They considered that the child will be born with a condition which will give him no future.

Even as the matter was to come up in court for a decision, a NGO offered to take care of the child. They have refused the offer.

Talking about the Mehtas, the doctor adds: “The couple came to me for a second opinion. They have been extremely courageous in this entire matter. I think there should be justice for Niketa.”