Port Blair, June 23: In what can be said as a nexus or a racket to extract money from the poor and helpless, a medical officer has been accused of forcing a minor girl to get her pregnancy aborted through a private medical practitioner in Port Blair.
The case came to light when the parents of a minor girl, who is said to be attaining the age of 18 in few months, wrote to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor of A&N Islands seeking help.
The complaint letter states that their daughter who is a resident of Swarajdweep, Krishnanagar village has been denied of pre-natal medical care at PHC Swaraj Dweep by a medical officer without giving due regard to the life of an unborn child. It has been alleged by the parents that the doctor having cognizance of the minor status of the expectant mother had advised her to get the pregnancy aborted at Port Blair through a private practitioner.
It was further stated that their daughter had approached the private practitioner who asked a sum of Rs. 1,20,000/- for the abortion. On being demanded an exorbitant sum for the procedure, the daughter had approached the parents over phone seeking help and intervention in the matter. The parents then approached the Medical Officer through the sitting Zilla Parishad member of Swaraj Dweep, Smti Abla Samadder. But after the intervention of the Zilla Parishad member, it has been alleged that the medical officer has destroyed all the documentary evidence in the Sub Centre, Krishnanagar and reported to the Police Station Swaraj Dweep.
The parents of the victim have prayed to the Lt. Governor that the Medical Officer had illegally advised to get the pregnancy aborted through a private medical practitioner, with whom she is alleged to have nexus to mint money by exploiting the poor. The prayer also mentions that the medical records for pre-natal medical care has been destroyed, which is unethical, in-human and denying the right of neo-natal to take birth. The parents have thus prayed to the Lt. Governor that appropriate action may be initiated against those involved.
(Note: Andaman Chronicle came out with this report based on the request and statements of elected representatives/ social workers. However we have decided not to reveal the identities of the victims and medical practitioners as the matter is to be investigated by the appropriate authorities).