Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act : MTP Act

MTP Act 1971: It stipulates a ceiling of 20 weeks, for termination of pregnancy.

This Law requires amendment to extend the ceiling and scope because of the following issues:

  • In the first 5 months, some women realize with delay, the need for an abortion.
  • Fetal anomaly scan is done during 20 - 21st week of pregnancy and delay in the scan or result, if shows lethal anomaly, could result in spur of industries providing unsafe termination and can lead to mother's death if she chose to opt for unsafe abortion services.
  • Can lead to unnecessary psychological trauma to the mother who has no option to discontinue the pregnancy.
  • If a women takes the legal route to get formal permission of termination after 20th week, it becomes stressful and painful both physically, financially and psychologically, for a mother who is already going distress because the baby's condition.
  • Vulnerable women including rape or incest victims,  differently abled and minors should get the freedom to choose.

Legislations regarding pregnancy

India: Medical Termination of pregnancy (Amendment ) Bill, 2020 seeks to extend the upper gestation limit to 24 weeks.

US : In a landmark SC Judgement, Roe v. Wade, it held that US Constitution protects Women's right to terminate her pregnancy and defined viability (usually 7 months) as potentially the ability to live outside mother's womb, albeit with artificial aid.


Recently, The Delhi HC has directed  the Medical Superintendent of  AIIMS to constitute a  medical board to examine the condition of a 25week pregnant woman, whose foetus is suffering from  serious abnormalities because of Bilateral Agenesis (both kidneys absent) and Anlyaramni and  thereby making it incompatible with life.


Source: Why Change , Proposed Bill

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