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THE MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2020
- Be N By IAS, Delhi
- 14, Feb 2021
CONTEXT:
Recently, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which seeks to amend the MTP Act, 1971, was passed in Lok Sabha recently.
FEATURES OF THE BILL:
- Time Period: The Bill increases the time period within which abortion may be carried out.
- It seeks to extend the upper limit for permitting abortions from 20 weeks to 24 under special circumstances.
- Termination due to failure of contraceptive method or device: Under the 1971 Act a pregnancy may be terminated up to 20 weeks by a married woman in the case of failure of contraceptive method or device.
- The Bill allows unmarried women to also terminate a pregnancy for this reason.
- Medical Boards: All state and union territory governments will constitute a Medical Board. The Board will decide if a pregnancy may be terminated after 24 weeks due to substantial foetal abnormalities.
- Privacy: A registered medical practitioner may only reveal the details of a woman whose pregnancy has been terminated to a person authorised by law.
- Violation is punishable with imprisonment up to a year, a fine, or both.
SOURCE: PRS