The authorities has notified new guidelines underneath which the gestational restrict for termination of being pregnant for sure classes of ladies has been elevated from 20 to 24 weeks.
As per the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Rules, 2021, these classes embody survivors of sexual assault or rape or incest, minors, girls whose marital standing modifications in the course of the ongoing being pregnant (widow and divorce) and bodily incapacity. Those folks
The new guidelines additionally cowl instances of mentally in poor health girls, fetal malformations which have a considerable danger of being incompatible with life or if the kid is born affected by bodily or psychological abnormalities which are severe girls with disabilities and pregnant girls in humanitarian settings or in catastrophe or emergency conditions as could also be declared by the Government.
The new guidelines come underneath the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021, handed by Parliament in March.
Earlier, abortion required one physician’s opinion if it was carried out inside 12 weeks of conception and two medical doctors’ opinion if it was carried out between 12 and 20 weeks.
As per the brand new guidelines, a state-level medical board might be constituted to determine whether or not a being pregnant may be terminated after 24 weeks in instances of fetal malformation and if the deformity of the fetus is life-threatening. There is a considerable danger of being incapacitated or if the kid is born severely disabled from such bodily or psychological abnormalities.
The perform of the Medical Board shall be to look at the lady and her report if she approaches for medical termination of being pregnant and to supply an opinion concerning termination of being pregnant or denial of the request for termination inside three days of receiving the request.
The Board can also be entrusted with the duty of guaranteeing that the abortion process, when suggested by it, is carried out inside 5 days of the receipt of the request for medical termination of being pregnant with all security precautions together with correct session.
Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director, Population Foundation of India (PFI), mentioned that in view of advances in scientific and medical know-how, the prolonged 24-week gestation interval must be relevant to all girls and never simply ‘particular classes of ladies’.
“We welcome the brand new guidelines underneath the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act just lately notified by the Central Government that are a results of the MTP Amendment Act, 2021 handed by Parliament in March this yr.
“However, given the advances in scientific and medical technology the world has seen over the years, the extended 24-week gestation period should be for all women, not just ‘special categories of women’.”
“In addition, the creation of a state medical board could potentially hinder women’s access to abortion services as many women later find out they are pregnant,” Mutreja mentioned.
Dr. Jaideep Malhotra, Founder of Rainbow IVF and former President of Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India, mentioned that it’s a “a lot awaited, delicate and ahead wanting revision for each the beneficiaries and gynecologists dealing with this upheaval. ” Is. for years and their fingers have been tied earlier than the legislation.
Senior Gynecologist Dr. Lovlina Nadir mentioned that the brand new guidelines of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act notified by the Central Government is a welcome step and a leap ahead for ladies’s reproductive choices.
Dr Lovlina Nadir, Senior Gynecologist in New Delhi mentioned, “I hope this is the first step towards making safe abortion accessible to all women and not just limited to women from special categories.” “It will empower women and make India a liberal pro-women country,” Nadir mentioned.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
