India abortion case: 13-year-old rape victim's baby dies two days after Caesarean birth

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The baby of a 13-year-old rape victim, who made headlines after she was allowed to terminate her pregnancy, has died two days after he was born.

The child was born by Caesarean section on Friday after India's Supreme Court ruled she could medically terminate her pregnancy, despite being 32 weeks pregnant.

Terminations are usually only granted in India after 20 weeks if the mother's life is in danger.

Doctors had originally suggested they wait to perform the procedure to allow the baby to grow further, but judges overruled their advice and ordered an immediate termination in the interests of the young girl.

Five doctors, led by gynaecologist Dr Ashok Anand, carried out the procedure at Mumbai's JJ Hospital, but as the baby was already well-developed, the termination resulted in his birth, Dr Anand told the BBC.

“The mother is doing fine and we'll discharge her in a couple of days," said Dr Anand, who added the boy had been born slightly underweight at 1.8kg.

The baby was kept in neonatal intensive care but died on Sunday.

"Usually, in premature deliveries, babies’ internal organs are too small and fail to recuperate with the body. This child, too, had smaller lungs and heart, causing respiratory restrictions," Dr Anand told the Hindustan Times.

The case made international headlines in August when doctors discovered the child was pregnant by chance after her parents sought medical advice for obesity treatment. ​

A colleague of the girl's father has been arrested for rape.