{"id":101479,"date":"2021-04-14T21:44:02","date_gmt":"2021-04-14T16:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=101479"},"modified":"2021-04-15T08:29:53","modified_gmt":"2021-04-15T02:59:53","slug":"issues-in-the-mtp-amendment-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/issues-in-the-mtp-amendment-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"Issues in the MTP Amendment Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Synopsis: <\/strong>The Medical Termination of Pregnancy or MTP Amendment bill is a step forward in recognising the rights of women. But it is not a giant leap.<\/p>\n

Introduction:<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The 1971 Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act<\/a> aims to reduce the maternal mortality ratio due to unsafe abortions in India. The amendments made a few significant updates to the 1971 Act.<\/p>\n

Salient provisions of The MTP Act, 1971:<\/strong><\/h5>\n
    \n
  1. The act allows a woman to terminate her pregnancy within the first 12 weeks<\/strong> of pregnancy. After consulting an RMP (registered medical practitioner) woman can terminate her pregnancy.<\/li>\n
  2. If a woman want to terminate her pregnancy between 12-20 weeks, she needs to get an opinion from 2 RMPs.<\/li>\n
  3. The Medical practitioners have to ascertain that continuance of the pregnancy would\u00a0risk the life of the pregnant woman or\u00a0<\/strong>substantial risk (Physical or mental abnormalities) to the\u00a0child<\/strong>\u00a0if it is born<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    Salient provisions of the MTP Amendment Bill:<\/strong><\/h5>\n
      \n
    1. The amendment extends the upper limit for permitting abortions from the current 20 weeks to 24 weeks.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n
    2. The opinion of one RMP is required for termination <\/strong>of pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation. (Between 20 weeks to 24 weeks the opinion of two RMP’s is required).<\/li>\n
    3. The Amendment also allows the termination of pregnancy beyond 24 weeks if there are foetal anomalies<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
    4. Formation of the medical boards<\/a> in each state<\/strong> by State governments for this specific purpose(termination of pregnancy after 24 weeks).<\/li>\n
    5. Further, the amendment facilitates abortion of “unmarried women also<\/a>“<\/strong>. As the amendment replaced the word \u2018husband\u2019 with the word \u2018partner\u2019. For the first time, the amendment of the MTP Act moved beyond marital relationships.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      The problems in the MTP Amendment Bill:<\/strong><\/h5>\n

      But the MTP Amendment falls short of few important things<\/a>. Such as,<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. The amendment does not address the heart of any debate on abortions. That is a woman as an agency of reproduction<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n
      2. The key decision-maker regarding the termination of pregnancy after 24 weeks should be the woman and her gynaecologist (for deciding the health of the woman\/foetus). Instead, the amendment created a Board of specialists<\/strong>. The board will make the woman undergo a difficult process<\/strong> before such an abortion. Sometimes the cases will also get decided in courts.<\/li>\n
      3. \u00a0The Amendment is not in line with the global trend<\/strong>. Over 60 countries allow women to abort their pregnancy at any point during their 10-month gestation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        Suggestions to improve the MTP Amendment Bill:<\/strong><\/h5>\n
          \n
        1. Because of a lack of development in medical technology, the 1971 Act prescribes the 12-week limit. <\/strong>As it is not safe for pregnant women to abort after 12-weeks.\n