Ten-year-old Pregnant Girl, Denied Abortion in Espírito Santo, Travels to Other State

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The 10-year-old child, pregnant after being raped by her uncle, was denied an abortion by Cassiano Antônio Moraes University Hospital (HUCAM). A Court had authorized the procedure on Saturday.

According to sources in the Health Secretariat of Espírito Santo (SESA), the HUCAM has no protocol to perform the procedure. The hospital is linked to the Federal University of Espírito Santos (UFES).

The impediment to the procedure would be the advanced stage of pregnancy. The girl was 22 weeks pregnant, more than five months, and not three as initially reported.

After the rejection, the girl traveled to another state together with a SESA social worker and a relative. The destination, where she would have the procedure, was kept secret.

Asked to provide further details, SESA would not comment on the matter. It stated by note that the child was taken in by the health and assistance services, the Guardianship Council and the judicial bodies. “It states that the proceeding is being conducted under judicial seal and that SESA is monitoring the case.” The HUCAM has not commented on the matter.

The abortion authorization was confirmed by UOL on Saturday, with two sources close to the case. The decision was made by Judge Antônio Moreira Fernandes, upon request of the State Prosecutor’s Office (MP-ES). The magistrate works at the São Mateus Children and Youth Court – a city 220 km from Vitória, where the child lives.

Brazilian law allows an abortion to be performed through the public health service in case the pregnancy is the result of rape, as well as in situations of risk to the mother or fetus anencephaly – precisely what the magistrate took into consideration.

The case

The 10-year-old child was raped and became pregnant. The 33-year-old uncle is the suspect for the crime. According to the Civil Police of Espírito Santo, the child had been a victim of rape for four years, and the case came to the attention of the police on Saturday, August 8th, when she was admitted to a public hospital in the city of São Mateus, 220 km from Vitória, with a suspected pregnancy.

The girl arrived at Roberto Silvares State Hospital with a relative. The doctors noticed that her abdomen was larger than usual and performed a pregnancy test, which came back positive.

The detective in charge of the case reported that the child’s uncle had been indicted for rape of a vulnerable person and threat, both of which were repeatedly committed. When combined, the penalties may exceed 15 years in prison. He is at large. Searches were conducted in Bahia, where the man has relatives, with no success.

Source: UOL