BEGINNIN G O F L IF E

IS S U E S MS.MUSKAN TIWARI
M.SC.NURSING (OBG)
KNPI,LUCKNOW
 INTRODUCTION
NURSING CONCERNS RELATED TO THE EARLY STAGES OF
LIFE INCLUDE A VARIETY OF MORAL AND PRACTICAL
DIFFICULTIES THAT COME UP WHEN PROVIDING CARE FOR
PEOPLE. FOR BOTH THE INFANT AND THEIR FAMILY, NURSES
PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN PROVIDING CARE, SUPPORT, AND
ADVOCACY.
 ABORTION
• TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY BEFORE THE VIABLE PERIOD (EX.28 TH
WEEK) IS TERMED
ABORTION. ABORTION IS ENDING THE PREGNANCY PRIOR TO THE VIABILITY OF THE FOETUS,
WHICH IS USUALLY BETWEEN 20-24 WEEKS OF GESTATION OR FOETAL WEIGHT OF 500GM.
TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY OCCURS SUDDENLY AS A MISCARRIAGE OR BY CHEMICAL,
SURGICAL , OR OTHERS MEANS.
• MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY ACT, 1970 AND RULES, 1975 THE MEDICAL
TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY ACT, 1971, RULES, 1975 AND REGULATION, 1975 SET
STANDARDS FOR CERTAIN CASES OF PREGNANCY TERMINATION BY REGISTERED MEDICAL
PRACTITIONERS AND RELATED MATTERS. THIS ACT EXTENDS TO ALL THE STATES OF INDIA,
EXCEPT JAMMU AND KASHMIR.
 OBJECTIVES
• 1) TO PREVENT LARGE NUMBER OF UNSAFE ABORTIONS AND SUBSEQUENT HIGH
INCIDENT OF MATERNAL MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY BY IMPROVING MATERNAL
HEALTH SCENARIO.
• 2) TO LEGALISE ABORTION SERVICES.
• 3) TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO SAFE ABORTION SERVICES TO WOMEN.
• 4) TO PROVIDE PROTECTION TO MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS WHO OTHERWISE
WOULD BE PENALISED UNDER THE INDIAN PANEL CODE SECTIONS 315-316.
 NEEDS FOR AMENDING THE MEDICAL
TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY ACT, 1971
• 1) AT PRESENT, WOMEN WHO WANT TO GET ABORTION DONE AFTER 20 WEEKS HAVE TO FACE
MANY LEGAL PROBLEMS; HOWEVER, THIS BILL PROPOSES TO CHANGE THE LEGAL PROVISIONS OF
PREGNANCY TERMINATION FROM 20 TO 24 WEEKS.

• 2) EVERY DAY, HUNDREDS OF WOMEN DIE AS A RESULT OF UNSAFE AND ILLEGAL ABORTIONS. THIS
BILL AIMS TO PROVIDE SAFETY AND PROTECTION TO PREGNANT WOMEN MORE SAFELY AND
EFFICIENTLY.

• 3) THE MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY ACT HAS BEEN REBUKED FOR FAILING TO SUSTAIN
WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGIES. THEREFORE, THIS ACT REQUIRES AMENDMENT AS IT WAS
PASSED IN 1971 WHEN TECHNOLOGY WAS NOT AS ADVANCED AS IT IS NOW.
• 4) THE ACT STATES THAT IF THE GIRL IS A MINOR OR UNDER 18 OR IF THE ABOVE
18 WOMAN IS INSANE OR LUNATIC, THE GUARDIAN'S LEGAL WRITTEN APPROVAL
IS REQUIRED. THIS PROVISION IS MENTIONED IN THE MEDICAL TERMINATION OF
PREGNANCY ACT, 1971WHICH IS EXCLUDED IN THIS BILL.
• 5) THIS PROPOSED BILL WILL RATIONALISE THE COMPLICATED LEGAL
PROVISIONS OF THE CURRENT MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY ACT,
1971. THIS WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR WOMEN TO TERMINATE THEIR
PREGNANCIES IN A MORE CONVENIENT AND EFFECTIVE MANNER.
 KEY PROVISIONS OF THE MTP AMENDMENT
ACT, 2021
• 1) TERMINATION DUE TO FAILURE OF CONTRACEPTIVE TECHNIQUE OR DEVICE: UNDER THE ACT, A MARRIED WOMAN
MAY TERMINATE A PREGNANCY UP TO 20 WEEKS IF THE CONTRACEPTIVE METHOD OR DEVICE FAILS. IT ALSO
ALLOWS UNMARRIED WOMEN TO END A PREGNANCY FOR THE SAME REASON.

• 2) PREGNANCY TERMINATION OPINION:

• I) PREGNANCY TERMINATION UP TO 20 WEEKS OF GESTATION REQUIRES THE OPINION OF ONE REGISTERED MEDICAL
PRACTITIONER (RMP).

• II) TWO RMPS' OPINIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR TERMINATING A PREGNANCY OF 20-24 WEEKS OF GESTATION.
• III) A STATE-LEVEL MEDICAL BOARD'S OPINION IS REQUIRED FOR A PREGNANCY TO BE TERMINATED AFTER 24 WEEKS
IF THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT FOETAL ABNORMALITIES.
•3) UPPER GESTATION LIMIT FOR SPECIAL CATEGORIES:
INCREASING THE UPPER GESTATION LIMIT FROM 20 TO 24 WEEKS
FOR SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF WOMEN, LIKE RAPE VICTIMS,
INCEST VICTIMS, DISABLED WOMEN, UNDER 18 GIRLS, ETC.
•4) CONFIDENTIALITY: THE IDENTITY AND OTHER PARTICULARS OF
A WOMAN WHOSE PREGNANCY HAS BEEN TERMINATED SHALL BE
REVEALED ONLY TO A PERSON AUTHORISED UNDER PRESENT LAW.
 TYPES OF ABORTIONS
• 1) FIRST TRIMESTER TERMINATION: MEDICAL ABORTION AND VACUUM ASPIRATION
ARE TWO TYPICAL METHODS OF ABORTION IN THE FIRST TRIMESTER. TYPICALLY, A
WOMAN HAS ACCESS TO MEDICAL ABORTION UP TO 7-9 WEEKS FOLLOWING HER LAST
MENSTRUATION. TWO DIFFERENT FORMS OF MEDICINE MUST BE TAKEN. BETWEEN 6
AND 14 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY, SURGICAL TREATMENTS, SUCH AS VACUUM
ASPIRATION AND DILATATION AND EVACUATION (D&E), ARE MORE PREVALENT.

• 2) SECOND AND THIRD SEMESTER TERMINATION: A PREGNANT WOMAN MAY HAVE D \&E
DURING THE SECOND TRIMESTER. THIS IS USUALLY DONE BY DOCTORS BETWEEN 12
AND 24 WEEKS. A PREGNANT WOMAN MAY HAVE A LABOUR INDUCTION ABORTION IN
THE THIRD TRIMESTER. BUT THIS IS REALLY UNUSUAL.