Forced surrogacy sparks protests in city

Visakhapatnam: Women staged a dharna in front of King George Hospital (KGH), Padmasri IVF Cenre and Fourth Town Police Station here on Wednesday demanding clinical abortion to a Dalit woman.

The activists alleged that without taking consent from the woman, Padmasri IVF Centre injected two zygotes into her womb after fertilisation. The hospital management is now offering Rs 3 lakh for giving birth to twins. 

The Dalit woman came to the city from Gajuwaka to sell her eggs at Rs 20,000 to Padmasri IVF Centre three weeks ago. Doctors assured her to discharge from the hospital after taking eggs. 

However, instead of discharging her after taking eggs, they injected two zygotes into her womb after fertilization in the test tube. When the women questioned the doctors why they are not discharging after three days, the doctors told her that they injected two zygotes into her womb and she should cooperate for nine months and give birth for twins. The management offered Rs 3 lakh after giving birth to twins.

She rejected their offer and demanded that they should discharge her immediately. The victim alleging that the hospital staff confined her for two weeks in the hospital and snatched her mobile phone. 

However, she fled the hospital and met her husband and informed about the incident. Along with her mother and other relatives, she met the women’s organisations and lodged a complaint with Fourth Town Police Station on May 21. In turn, police sent her to KGH for medical examination where the doctors informed that she need to be admitted as an inpatient.

As there is no action against Padmasri IVF Centre, many women activists staged a dhaprna against police and Padmasri IVF Centre demanding abortion to the woman. Responding to the media, police said that a case was registered against the hospital and further investigation is on. Police said that magistrate permission is compulsory for clinical abortion and they are acting as per law.

The victim, speaking to the media, said that her friend Usha brought her to the hospital to sell eggs for Rs 20,000. However, doctors cheated and injected zygote into her womb. “I don’t want to give birth and I am asking to remove zygotes, but no one responding and I am facing health issues also,” the victim lamented.

District president of POW S Vekatalakshmi said that according to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Padmasri IVF Centre was running illegal business. If something happened to the victim, who would be held responsible, she questioned? The district medical and health officer also not responded so far. Police should take immediate steps for removal of zygotes which have been injected into her illegally, Lakshmi demanded.

When contacted DMHO R Ramesh said that Padmasri IVF Centre is having valid licence and he is not aware of the issue. “Police or the victim no one informed this office. The issue came to my notice through the media only. I will inquire into the incident and take appropriate action,” Dr Ramesh told The Hans India.