Assam doctor on the run after foetal error

THE DOCTOR HANDED THE ‘DEAD’ BABY TO THE WOMAN’S FAMILY IN A PLASTIC BAG BUT THEY FOUND IT ALIVE & MOVING

GUWAHATI: A gynaecologist in Assam has gone underground for aborting a ‘dead’ foetus that was found to be alive by the woman’s family. The premature baby, however, could not survive beyond nine hours.

Police have launched a hunt for Guwahati-based Rumki Paul, who made Eliza Begum undergo an abortion at the primary health centre (PHC) in Kharupetia, 85km northeast of Guwahati. Paul had allegedly diagnosed as dead the five-month-old foetus Eliza was carrying, and advised her to go for abortion as her life was in danger.

“She charged ` 3,000 from us for the abortion, but the baby was far from dead,” a member of Eliza’s family said.

Paul handed them the ‘dead’ baby in a plastic bag and returned to the labour room. “But we found the baby was alive and moving, and when we told the doctor, she ignored us and went off in a hurry,” he said.

A PHC attendant said the premature baby could not make it beyond nine hours.

“The victim’s kin lodged a complaint and we registered a case against her under five sections of the IPC including one related to causing death of unborn child by act amounting to culpable homicide,” a police officer said from Kharupetia.