Ministry of Health & Family Welfare vide a notification dated October 29, 2014, proposes to bring certain amendments in Medical Termination Pregnancy Act, 1971. The Medical Termination Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2014 proposes to exceed the limit for termination of pregnancy to twenty four weeks. It seeks to amend Section 3 of Act of 1971 which deals with Termination of pregnancy by registered medical practitioner. It also proposes to substitute the ‘registered medical practitioner’ with ‘registered health care’ and sub section (2) which says that a pregnancy may be terminated by a registered health care provider (a) On the request of a woman, where the length of pregnancy does not exceed twelve weeks. (b) (i) where the length of pregnancy exceeds twelve weeks but does not exceed twenty weeks or; (ii) where the length of pregnancy exceeds twenty weeks but does not exceed twenty four weeks and the woman falls in the categories, as may be prescribed.
The provisions of sub section (2) related to the length of pregnancy shall not apply to the termination of pregnancy by registered health care provider where termination of such pregnancy is necessitated by diagnosis of any substantial foetal abnormalities.
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