6-month pregnant woman dies in botched abortion

The police said six-month-old pregnant Ramuthai, a resident of Uthapuram near Elumalai, already had three girl children. She was alleged to have approached a private clinic in Thottappanaickanur for abortion, but doctors there refused to go ahead citing her advanced stage of pregnancy. Meanwhile, Jothi Lakshmi, a nurse at the clinic, performed the abortion at the residence, leading to Ramuthai’s death. 

Initial probe revealed that Ramuthai had apparently undergone a scan at the clinic to determine the sex of the foetus before taking the extreme step. She did not consult any village health nurse or avail of pregnancy care treatment as she was not registered with any clinic or hospital. The woman’s relatives later raised slogans outside the nurse’s house demanding her arrest. They also laid siege to an emergency ambulance van seeking police action against the nurse. According to Madurai Deputy Director of Health Services KV Arjun Kumar said the Joint Director of Health has been apprised of the incident to initiate stern action against the private clinic. Usilampatti Taluk police have filed a case and arrested the nurse.  

Usilampatti taluk was infamous in the 80s and 90s for female infanticide by administering poison, but the practice gradually came down with the state government taking various initiatives.