India is a liberal country where abortion is permitted to a married women up to 20 weeks as per The Medical Termination of Pregnancy [MTP] Act 1971. The said Act was amended in the year 2021 & replaced the word “married” from “women” to cover unmarried girls & singles for safe abortion services. But, despite such positive changes, unsafe abortions in the country are the stark reality & approx. eight (8) women die daily due to unsafe abortions in India as per United Nations Population Fund [UNFPA] State of the World Population Report 2022. So, the inspiration & motivation came from this fact alone to save the life of women dying from unsafe abortions. That Dr. Rupali’s Abortion Hospital was founded & established with the sole object to provide safe & legal abortion in India with dignity to all married, unmarried, single, divorcee, widows, abandoned, separated, women living in live in relationship, foetus with congenital abnormalities & minors with absolute privacy & confidentiality. The vision is to make India a safe destination for abortion services & any patient across the globe can have safe MTP with dignity.
You played a key role in the landmark Supreme Court judgment extending abortion rights for unmarried women up to 24 weeks—how do you reflect on the impact of this ruling?
Yes, the Special Leave Petition [SLP] was filed before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India by our legal team led by Advocate Dr. Amit Mishra for the abortion of 24 weeks of an unmarried women and in the Landmark Judgment i.e X v. THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE & ANR GOVT. NCT OF DELHI 2022 [SCC ONLINE SC 905] DATED 29.09.2022 wherein the Hon’ble Supreme court expanded Abortion of unmarried women or singles from 20 weeks to 24 weeks in India & made Choice & Reproductive rights of the women a fundamental right. This judgment has benefitted a large number of unmarried girls to have safe abortion services in India and somewhere it will help in reducing the Maternal Mortality Rate [MMR] as well.
Privacy and confidentiality are central to your hospital’s model. How do you ensure this for minors, rape survivors, and even international patients who travel to you?
That Section 5A Medical Termination of Pregnancy [MTP] Act ensures absolute privacy of all patients looking for safe abortion services before any registered centre and that’s why the law has created deterrence in the form of punishment of one year to any person who violate the said law by disclosing the identity of the patient. It is also found that large number of clinics/centres/hospitals refuse to do ultrasound scan and abortion of minor patients & due to that they have to go for quacks or illegal centres for abortion & endangered their lives. Hence, it becomes the primary duty of Dr. Rupali’s Abortion Hospital to provide safe & legal abortion services to minor, rape survivors girls carrying unwanted pregnancy with proper counselling & absolute privacy with dignity. Similarly, we cater international patients as well through online consultation & also assist in their medical visa.
Changing laws and perceptions around abortion in India is not easy. What personal or professional challenges did you face in this journey?
It is a stark & sad reality of our country that people still believe that abortion is illegal or it cannot be done without husband/partner/parents’ consent. These ignorance/myths need to dispel with awareness and correct facts. It is also true that changing of any codified law is not an easy task and it takes time and lot of efforts alongwith merits & substance in your case. In the landmark judgment X v. The Principal Secretary, the Hon’ble Delhi High Court refused to permit the petitioner for abortion of 23 weeks on the ground of being unmarried/single. But, the said order was challenged before the Hon’ble Supreme Court immediately after mentioning before the Chief Justice of India for listing the matter & argued on the law point that excluding unmarried women/singles from the beneficial provision of Rule 2B MTP Rules where minors, divorcee, widows, rape victims, physically disable or mentally challenged women are allowed for abortion will amount to discrimination & inequality & violation of Article 14, 19 & 21 of the Constitution of India. Hence, the law finally got changed in our country on 29.09.2022.
With thousands of successful procedures and patients from across the world, what do you think truly differentiates Dr. Rupali’s Abortion Hospital from other healthcare providers?
Yes, it is a remarkable achievement for Dr. Rupali’s Abortion Hospital that experienced team of doctors here have performed more than thousands of procedures safely & successfully & as a result, the Hospital has earned a good reputation & goodwill across the world with 4.9 ratings & approx. 6000 positive Google Reviews/feedback. Apart from law changer on the abortion rights of women, Dr. Rupali’s Abortion Hospital is a pioneer in providing safe & legal abortion services, all the procedures are done by the experienced team of female doctors under IV Anaesthesia with ultrasound guided & after suction evacuation procedure, an ultrasound scan also done to assure that uterus is clear. The privacy & confidentiality of the patient is highly maintained & all patients irrespective of their marital status treated & cared with full respect & dignity. Nonetheless, a follow up consultation & ultrasound scan is also done with the patient to assure that everything is all right. Moreover, it is proud to say that its exclusive women centric Abortion Hospital to maintain their absolute privacy where any girl can discuss their concern with the doctors openly without any hesitation. From consultation to ultrasound scan and to suction procedure, all will be performed under one roof by qualified team of female doctors and trained staff who understand their pain & situations at that moment without seeing the clock. Hence, these things make Dr. Rupali’s Abortion unique from the other clinics/centres.