Chandigarh: Ayurvedic doctor, wife booked for performing illegal abortion

Chandigarh: An Ayurvedic doctor and his wife allegedly performed an abortion on a patient after a tip-off led the Panchkula Health Department to raid and bust an illegal abortion centre. The duo has been booked by the police.

Anil Kaushal, the Ayurvedic doctor and his wife, Sarita Kaushal performed the illegal abortion at a non-profit named Rajshree Rehabilitation Centre from a shop in Rajiv Colony, Sector 17, Panchkula, that is reported to be run by them.

The incident took place when a patient went to both the accused to abort her child with her husband on April 26 and 27. Following the surgery, the patient suffered from many medical complications and was rushed to the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH) in Sector 16, Chandigarh on Sunday with her husband. Doctors at GMSH-16 diagnosed her with post-abortion infection and later referred her to PGIMER, where doctors confirmed that she was suffering from multiple organ failure due to septic abortion.

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The Health Department was contacted after PGI asked the patient's husband about the reason behind her terrible condition.

Dr Mukta Kumar, chief medical officer (CMO), Panchkula told HT, "We received information telephonically regarding admission of a patient at PGIMER with multiple organ failure due to septic abortion at an illegal centre in Sector 17, Panchkula."

After the incident, a committee was formed to inspect, raid and seal the centre and the committee with the Chandigarh health department officials reached the spot at 1 pm on Monday and found that the illegal centre had a gynaecology examination table, an Indian-style toilet adjoining the table and huge stock of allopathic drugs, including injections, stocked in an almirah and used examination gloves.

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The committee then filed a complaint to the in-charge of Sector 16 police post for registration of an FIR against both the accused. Later, the police booked the duo under Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act; Section 18 (c) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940; Sections 420, 312 and 315 of the Indian Penal Code; and Sections 15 (2) and 15 (3) of Indian Medical Council Act.

Therefore, Panchkula police arrested Sarita Kaushal on Monday, while her husband is away in Gurugram and is yet to be arrested.

Later, it came to light that the illegal clinic was once an NGO before and was registered 2 years ago but it had opened 5 years ago.

Dr Suman Singh, director of health services, Chandigarh said "A woman there claimed that she has a diploma in naturopathy, and her husband holds a bachelor's of ayurvedic medicine and surgery (BAMS). She claimed that he is a registered medical practitioner and presently practising in Panchkula. She further said her husband visits this NGO to treat patients on-call and these allopathic and Ayurvedic drugs belong to them, though she was not aware of the drugs stocked in the NGO office."

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