The Lok Sabha has passed the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill, to ensure safety and well-being of women.
About
The Bill amends the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 which provides for the termination of certain pregnancies by registered medical practitioners.
Definition:The Bill adds the definition of termination of pregnancy to mean a procedure undertaken to terminate a pregnancy by using medical or surgical methods.
Termination of Pregnancy: Under the Act, a pregnancy may be terminated within 12 weeks, if a registered medical practitioner is of the opinion that:
continuation of the pregnancy may risk the life of the mother, or cause grave injury to her health
there is a substantial risk that the child, if born, would suffer physical or mental abnormalities.
For termination of a pregnancy between 12 to 20 weeks, two medical practitioners are required to give their opinion.
Abortion and Indian Law:
The Indian Penal code, drafted in the 19th century, which is still in force, considers abortion a crime.
This law states that the woman and the person helping, can be imprisoned up to seven years.
The MTP Act carved out an exception to the provisions.
The Bill amends this provision to state that a pregnancy may be terminated within 20 weeks, with the opinion of a registered medical practitioner.
Approval of two registered medical practitioners will be required for termination of pregnancies between 20 to 24 weeks.
The termination of pregnancies up to 24 weeks will only apply to specific categories of women, as may be prescribed by the central government.
Further, the central government will notify the norms for the medical practitioner whose opinion is required for termination of the pregnancy.
Constitution of a Medical Board:
The Bill states that the upper limit of termination of pregnancy will not apply in cases where such termination is necessary due to the diagnosis of substantial foetal abnormalities.
These abnormalities will be diagnosed by a Medical Board. Under the Bill, every state government is required to constitute a Medical Board.
These Medical Boards will consist of the following members: (i) a gynaecologist, (ii) a paediatrician, (iii) a radiologist or sonologist, and (iv) any other number of members, as may be notified by the state government.
Significance of the Bill:
The moveis in the interest of women’s rights as it will help in expanding access of women to safe and legal abortion services on therapeutic, eugenic, humanitarian or social grounds.
The bill is a great recognition of women’s reproductive rights as these are essential for women’s equality as they ensure women’s rights of bodily autonomy.