Brief of Calcutta Order allowing Second Autopsy of Pregnant Woman - Vrankers

 Brief of Calcutta Order allowing Second Autopsy of Pregnant Woman 

Quick brief of the order passed by the Calcutta High Court allowing Second #Autopsy on the body of a pregnant woman in Shankar Ruidas vs State of West Bengal and Ors.

 1. The court was hearing the plea of the 19 year old women’s father who according to him was in advanced stage of #Pregnancy. 

2. She was admitted with malnutrition and poor health and was advised to undergo #COVID19 test at a private hospital which submitted that they conducted only COVID19 test which came out to be negative and she then return to Uluberia Sub divisional hospital. 

3. Report submitted by Uluberia Sub divisional hospital revealed that the women died on 20th April 2020 due to #Malnutrition and poor health related complications. 

4. Father of the woman submitted that media report indicated that she delivered a child at Sanjiban hospital but the court didn’t find any material regarding this.The state submitted that the woman did not deliver any child at Uluberia hospital nor was she operated. 

5. Court considering all the facts observed that when she was admitted to the hospital she weighed 41 kgs while in her #PostMortem report she weighed only 25 kgs. It is inconceivable that she lost 16 kgs in just four days. 

6. Court also mentioned that the post mortem report does not even mention about any #Foetus which she was carrying. 

7. Court directed that the body must be preserved in the same state as it is now and a second post mortem is to be carried on the body within 48 hours from now. It issued further directions to conduct #DNA test and collect DNA sample with her relatives to find out whether the body in the Morgue of Uluberia hospital is of the lady in question. 

8. The court specially mentioned that she was a #Citizen of India though she didn’t belong to an entitled class. Her family was not capable enough to provide Health benefits and basic amenities that she required as a would-be mother. At least in death she is entitled to some #Dignity as a Right enshrined in our Constitution under #Article 21.