Ans. is c i.e. > 12 weeks Medical termination of Pregnancy act passed in 1971deg is an impoant topic. Many questions are asked on this topic. I am giving MTP Act in detail - Do go through it. THE MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY ACT, 1971 In India. the MTP act was passed in August 1971 and came into effect from April 1972. In extends to the whole of India except in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Indications : A. Therapeutic : When the continuation of pregnancy endangers the life of woman or may cause serious injury to her physical or mental health. B. Eugenic : When there is risk of the child being born with serious physical or mental abnormalities. This may occur. If the pregnant woman in the first three months suffers from : -- German measles, (incidence of congenital defects 10 to 12%). -- Smallpox or chicken pox. -- Toxoplasmosis. -- Viral hepatitis. Any severe viral infection. If the pregnant woman is treated with drugs like thalidomide, coisone, aminopterin, antimitotic drugs, or if she consumes hallucinogens or antidepressants. Mother is treated by X-rays or radioisotopes. Insanity of the parents. Humanitarian : When pregnancy has been caused by rape.deg Social : When pregnancy has resulted from the failure of contraceptive methods in case of a marrieddeg woman, which is likely to cause serious injury to her mental health. When social or economic environment, actual or reasonably expected can injure the mother's health. Rules : Only a qualified registered medical practitionerdeg possessing prescribed experience can terminate pregnancy. Chief Medical Officer of the district is empowered to ceify that a doctor has the necessary training to do aboions. A medical practitioner can qualify if he has assisted in performance of twenty-five cases ofdeg M. TR in a recognised hospital. The pregnancy should be terminated in Government hospitalsdeg, or in the hospitals recognised by the Governme: . Is No novemmental institutions may take up aboion if they obtain a licence from Chief Medical Officer of the district.deg The consent of the womandeg is required before conducting aboion. Written consent of the guardian is required if the woman is a minor (<18 years)degor a mentally ill person.deg Consent of husband is not necessary. Aboion cannot be performed on the request of the husband, if the woman herself is not willing. The woman need not produce proof of her age. The statement of the woman that she is over eighteen years of age is accepted. It is enough for the woman to state that she was raped, and it is not necessary that a complaint was lodged with the police. Professional secrecy has to be maintained. The Admission Register for the termination of pregnancies is secret document, and the information contained therein should not be disclosed to any person. If the period of pregnancy is below 12 weeks, it can be terminated on the opinion of a single doctor.deg // the period of pregnancy is between 12 and 20 weeks, two doctors must agree that there is an indication.deg Once the opinion is formed, the termination can be done by any one doctor. Termination is permitted upto 20 weeks of pregnancy.deg In an emergency, pregnancy can be terminated by a single doctor, even without required training (even after twenty weeks). without consulting a second doctor, in a private hospital which is not recognised. The termination of pregnancy by a person who is not registered medical practitioner (person concerned), or in an unrecognised hospital (the administrative head) shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a terra which shall not be less than two years, but which may extend to seven years.