*November 3, 2010* 'Too early to call it female infanticide' say KEM psychiatrists treating woman who threw premature baby girl out of hospital window
Psychiatrists at KEM Hospital who are assessing Deepika Parmar's mental health at KEM Hospital maintain that it is too early to say if Parmar's intention was female infanticide. Parmar was booked for murder after she flung her twin baby girl out of the bathroom window at KEM Hospital on Tuesday resulting in the infant's death. However, she is yet to be arrested and is currently being examined by psychiatrists at KEM hospital. "The obvious would be to assume that there was some bias against the girl child. But it's evident after observing her that a number of factors are at play here," said Dr Shubhangi Parkar, head of department for psychiatry at the hospital. Parkar said that apart from postpartum depression, Parmar's situation and past miscarriages might indicate depression stemming from biological and social vulnerability. "Unfortunately, so far, she has just said she wasn't aware of what she had done. She is completely numb and fatigued. She might have not had a very strong support system or even an economic burden on the family," she said. "There's nothing we can assume for certain just yet. When she opens up a little more, we shall be able to arrive at a sounder conclusion." Parmar had earlier lost two children - a boy that suffered an intrauterine death and a girl that expired within the first week of the delivery. Relatives also maintain that the illness of Parmar's husband have pushed her to the edge. Pragnesh Dalvi, a relative, said, "Two years ago, Deepika's husband Manish was diagnosed with leprosy and was even admitted to the KEM Hospital. She might have also been scared that her children would get the disease." The Bhoiwada police recorded the statement of hospital officials yesterday. http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/oct/291010-KEM-hospital-Psychiatrists-twin-baby-bathroom-window.htm -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
