CHENNAI: A 15-year-old Dalit girl, a Class 10 student from Chengalpattu, died on Thursday at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital after a desperate home abortion attempt led to severe bleeding and septic shock.
The girl was 10 weeks pregnant. Upon discovering her pregnancy, her family, possibly fearing social stigma, opted for a home abortion. The procedure went horribly wrong, causing severe bleeding.
Her ordeal involved multiple healthcare facilities, yet none triggered the mandatory legal protection for a minor Pocso victim.
On January 4, she visited a private hospital for a fever, where tests confirmed her pregnancy.
The hospital informed the family but did not alert the police.
Days later, after the botched home attempt caused bleeding, she was taken to the Chengalpattu Government Hospital. Even the government doctors failed to report the case, instead advising the family to transfer her to RGGGH.
It was only she got admitted to the hospital in Chennai on January 17 that the Chengalpattu taluk police were finally notified.
For 12 days, she fought for her life in the hospital, ultimately succumbing to complications from the unsafe abortion.
They confirmed the fatal bleeding was a direct result of the home abortion attempt, reportedly conducted by her mother.
Police have since identified a 21-year-old man believed responsible for her pregnancy and have preserved foetal DNA for evidence.
The sexual assault, the failed and illegal abortion, and the silence of medical professionals, including government doctors who ignored mandatory reporting laws left the child without protection, said a police officer.