The parents of a 13-year-old Indian girl took her to the doctors for treatment after she had been gaining weight. But instead of a thyroid problem or other medical complication, doctors discovered the young girl from Mumbai was pregnant, the BBC reports.
The 13-year-old alleges she was raped by the colleague of her father, who has since been arrested.
According to The Indian Times, The Supreme Court has now up a medical board assess if the girl—who is carrying a 30-week foetus—can be granted an abortion.
In India, abortions are not permitted beyond 20 weeks under the 1971 Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, although extreme allowances are made.
Mumbai-based gynaecologist Dr Nikhil Datar told the BBC the girl “knows she’s pregnant and kind of understands what it means, but not fully”.
He has recommend that an abortion would be best for her health.
“Her pelvis is not fully developed to carry a baby to full term and she will go through physical and mental trauma if she’s not allowed to abort,” the said.
“There are definite risks to her health. It will be more troublesome for her the longer it’s allowed to continue.”
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