Question 1

Q: A 15 year old girl comes to the gynae casualty with a relative with complaints of amenorrhoea 2 months. The urine pregnancy test is positive, ultrasound confirms 8 weeks pregnancy. The attendants are not willing to file a police case. What should the treating doctor do?

Inform the police and make MLC. ***Inform the police and make MLC*** - A 15-year-old girl is a minor, and pregnancy in a minor is considered a **cognizable offense** under the **Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012**. - Under POCSO Act, **sexual intercourse with a person below 18 years is statutory rape**, regardless of consent. - Reporting to the police and making a **medico-legal case (MLC)** is **mandatory** for healthcare providers to ensure legal protection for the minor and initiate investigation into sexual abuse. - This reporting is required **irrespective of the family's wishes** or unwillingness to file a case. *None of the options* - This is incorrect because there is a clear legal and ethical obligation to report the case due to the patient's age and the implications of the POCSO Act. - Failing to act would constitute a **breach of duty** under Section 19 of POCSO Act and could have serious legal consequences for the doctor. *Take consent for abortion and proceed* - While **Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP)** might be medically indicated, a doctor cannot proceed based on consent alone without addressing the **legal ramifications** of pregnancy in a minor. - Performing abortion without reporting the case would mean **bypassing mandatory POCSO Act provisions**, which has serious legal implications for the treating doctor. *Take parents consent for MTP* - While parental consent for MTP is necessary for a minor under the MTP Act, it does **not supersede the requirement** to report pregnancy in a minor under the **POCSO Act**. - The primary concern here is the **protection of the minor** from potential sexual abuse, which mandates police involvement before any other intervention. [Practice more Forensic Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Question

A 15 year old girl comes to the gynae casualty with a relative with complaints of amenorrhoea 2 months. The urine pregnancy test is positive, ultrasound confirms 8 weeks pregnancy. The attendants are not willing to file a police case. What should the treating doctor do?

Accepted Answer

Inform the police and make MLC

Answer

None of the options

Answer

Take consent for abortion and proceed

Answer

Take parents consent for MTP

UPSC-CMS 2018 — Forensic Medicine