TURA, Aug 19: The All Meghalaya Medicos Association has extended support to their arrested colleague, senior Gynaecologist Dr Dolan SR Marak, who was taken into custody for allegedly illegally terminating the pregnancy that involved a minor rape victim, two weeks ago.
The court has already rejected the bail application of the accused doctor twice, the latest being on Wednesday.
Despite the case under the purview of the court, the medical group from Garo Hills has rooted for the accused doctor terming the allegations against their colleague as “incorrect” and “fabricated”.
“The reliable sources informed that the termination of pregnancy was not performed at all on the minor girl and the foetus is still viable, for which they have conclusive evidence. The minor girl, as informed, had come to the private clinic only to seek a test for pregnancy confirmation,” the Association in a statement.
The Association claimed that the doctor was unaware of the age of the victim and examined the girl in good faith.
The Association also informed that there is no particular FIR lodged against the doctor as there is no evidence to indicate that medical termination of pregnancy was conducted on the minor girl.
Meanwhile, police investigation into the case has revealed many other things that are completely contrary to the medical body’s claims.
“The accused doctor has been produced before POCSO judge and the custody has been granted by the court. So, this is not an illegal arrest or detention. All steps are being followed as per law and as per court orders. A strong and irrefutable evidence exists that many termination of underage pregnancies have been performed by the same doctor in the past. He is a named accused in the case now and under custody after due orders of POCSO court,” inform police investigators.
“As per Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, abortions can be performed only at government hospitals or at any place which has been specifically approved by the government. Why was it being conducted in a private clinic? Further, in case of length of pregnancy being more than 12 weeks, opinion of two medical practitioners is required before conducting termination,” they said.
“We have very tangible and irrefutable evidence that many pregnancies, longer than 12 weeks, were conducted at the Williamnagar clinic, with some of them being minors. In this case too, the doctor has accepted the payment and started the process of termination but it couldn’t conclude as the girl had left clinic after parents reported missing to police,” the investigators added.
“In this case, doctor Dolen himself had opined in his prescription that pregnancy is 16 weeks old. In addition, the victim has clearly stated that she was taken to the clinic for termination of pregnancy and everything that happened there,” informed police investigating the case.
