``I had conceived without planning and had sought an MTP (medical termination of pregnancy) on February 5 as I already had two daughters,'' she says. A day before the abortion she began to bleed and she was rushed to Gupta who did an MTP on February 10. ``I got a paper from her saying my abortion had been done,'' says Mitra. ``I missed my menstrual cycle last month and I was told by the doctor that the periods were usually upset for some months after MTP. But when I missed them this month also I went to her on April 10 and after examination she said I was carrying, most probably twins.''

An ultrasound test revealed a four-month-old baby. The doctor then said that there has been a mistake and she was ready to do an MTP free of cost, says Mitra.

``But I would not trust her again. And I cannot have the baby either. Not after she had removed parts of it and given me strong medicines,'' says Mitra. She says she is afraid for her life as the MTP was being done in an advanced stage of pregnancy.

Dr Renu Gupta said that abortion was a blind procedure and no gynaecologist on earth could say with certainty that he or she could always do a perfect MTP.

``The shape of the uterus is such that often parts remain inside. And in Mitra's case the foetus remained inside,'' she says.

She said that worse things happen when MTPs leave behind chunks of flesh and the woman continues to bleed till she dies.

``I know that the patient plans to sue me but the court will have guynaecologists who will understand the risks involved in any MTP,'' Gupta says. She also ruled out any danger to the woman in having an MTP after four months saying it was legal till five months.

``But isn't the doctor supposed to check up after an MTP and verify if all was well,'' asks Mitra. ``And I am told that MTP is done with ultrasound aid,'' she says.

Dr Urvashi Jha, gynaecologist in Apollo Hospital agrees that MTP is a blind procedure. ``The doctor is trying to spoon out contents of a small balloon. What is the certainty that it is fully emptied? No one does MTPs on ultrasound though it is possible,'' she said. She said that Mitra's baby could be safe in spite of the strong medicines taken by her like Ciprobid, Zespes, Methargin and asthmatic drug asthalin.

Jha said that it was good that the issue comes out in the open as common people needed to know the medical problems connected with abortion.

Dr Sudha Salhan, head of the gynaecology department of Safdarjung Hospital, says that continuation of pregnancy after an MTP does happen in rare cases. ``But it is possible to verify the success of an MTP as the uterus becomes harder soon after and the size becomes smaller. Besides patients are always called for a checkup after two weeks,'' she says.

She can have an abortion now, as it is possible till five months, she says, while adding that the risk for complications has increased.