Recently, the Supreme Court refused to permit the married woman to terminate her 26-week pregnancy, thereby upholding the right of unborn child.
The woman was well past the abortion limit of 24 weeks under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act 2021.
Section 5 of Act allows abortion only if the pregnancy poses an actual, physical and immediate danger to a woman’s life and health according to medical experts.
As per the Act, 20 weeks of pregnancy can be Termination of pregnancy is allowed on the advice of 1 doctor.
The right to seek abortion is determined by 2 registered medical practitioners as an exception, but only under certain categories during the 20-24 weeks of pregnancy.
Beyond 24 weeks, it is mandatory to form medical board at approved facilities to give opinion termination of pregnancy beyond 24 weeks owing to foetal abnormalities.