A woman’s assessment of her inability to continue her pregnancy has been replaced by court’s opinion of her circumstances while hearing for the abortion of a feotus in 26 weeks, considering child’s birth rights.
Limited Reach of 2021 Amendment
Amendment Scope: India extended legal abortion limit to 24 weeks for specific cases, excluding severe fetal abnormalities.
Continued Judicial Intervention: Women still approach courts for breach of new gestational limits or provider denial.
Prevalence of Post-20 Week Cases: Pre-2021, 74% of MTP cases filed post-20 weeks, mostly for fetal abnormalities or rape.
Challenges in Legal and Medical Processes
Burdensome Procedures: Women face multiple medical exams, psychiatric evaluations, and graphic courtroom descriptions for abortion approval.
RMPs' Reluctance: Fear of legal consequences deters registered medical practitioners from providing timely abortion care.
Inadequate Legal Safeguards: Indian law, while relatively liberal, doesn't align with international human rights standards for abortion access.
Inequities in Abortion Decision-Making
Unequal Considerations: Courts and the State make distinctions between reasons for abortion, impacting women's reproductive autonomy.
Debated Judgments: Recent cases like X highlight the struggle for women's rights in pregnancy termination decisions.
Call for Comprehensive Reform: WHO advocates for decriminalizing abortion and removing gestational limits for equal and safe access.