Woman dies while trying to 'abort baby girl'

A 26-year-old pregnant woman died from excessive bleeding at Victoria Hospital on Friday night.

Radhamani was reportedly given an overdose of abortion pills by a midwife at Korategere in Tumakuru after she decided to terminate her pregnancy upon learning that she had conceived a girl for the fourth time, a source said. But the overdose caused excessive bleeding. She was rushed to Victoria Hospital. As soon as she was declared dead, her husband Ramaiah alleged that she was a victim of criminal medical negligence owning to illegal sex determination. Radhamani’s body was subjected to post-mortem on Saturday and handed over to the family.

Midwife Nagamma is absconding. The Korategere police have booked her and are hunting for her. Tumakuru district health officials met the woman’s husband and relatives. They also visited the nursing home in Koratagere where Radhamani was receiving treatment during her pregnancy to ascertain whether it followed the unlawful practice of sex determination. A health official said an enquiry would be initiated into the entire case. The post-mortem report will determine the cause of death.