This document summarizes the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971 in India. It discusses key aspects of the act including: - Defining abortion as permissible up to 20 weeks and up to 24 weeks under certain conditions to protect a woman's health. - Requiring consent from the pregnant woman for termination, except in cases of minors or those deemed mentally unfit. - Specifying that abortions can only be performed in government hospitals or other approved places by registered medical practitioners with proper training and experience. - Outlining documentation and reporting requirements to maintain confidential abortion records for 5 years.

1. Dr. Prakash Chandra Gupta
Assistant Professor
University Institute of Pharmacy,
CSJM University Kanpur

2. .
INTRODUCTION
• An Act to provide for the Termination of certain
pregnancies by registered medical practioners
and related matters.
• Legislated by the parliament on 10th August,
1971 and the Act was enforced Nationwide from
1st April, 1972.
• The amendment of this Act was done in 2021.
OBJECTIVE
• To regulate and ensure access to safe abortion
care and defines ‘when’ ‘where’ and under ‘what’
conditions abortion is permissible.

3. DEFINITIONS
 “Guardian": Means a person having the care of the person
of a minor or a lunatic.
 “Registered medical practitioner": Means a medical
practitioner who possesses any recognized medical
qualification as defined in Sec. 2 of the Indian Medical
Council Act, and whose name has been entered in a State
Medical Register and who has such experience or training
in gynecology and obstetrics.
 “Approve place”: Means a place approved under rule 4 of
the MTP Rules 1975.

4. TERMINATION OF PREGNANCIES
A pregnancy may be terminated by a registered
medical practitioner,
 Where the length of the pregnancy does not
exceed twenty weeks. OR
 Where the length of the pregnancy exceeds
twenty weeks but does not exceed twenty four
weeks, if not less than two registered medical
practitioners are of opinion that:.
The continuance of the pregnancy would involve
a risk to the life of the pregnant woman or of
grave injury physical or mental health. OR

5. .
There is a substantial risk that if the child were born,
it would suffer from such physical or mental
abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped.
Pregnancy caused by rape (presumed grave injury to
mental health)
Contraceptive failure in married couple (presumed
grave injury to mental health)
 No pregnancy shall be terminated without the
consent of pregnant women except when: a) the
pregnant woman is less than 18 years in age b)
pregnant women is a lunatic although she has
attained the age of 18 years. Such consent shall be
given in Form C.

6. PLACE WHERE PREGNANCY MAY BE TERMINATED
No termination of pregnancy shall be made in
accordance with this Act at any place other
than-
• A hospital established or maintained by
Government, or
• A place for the time being approved for the
purpose of this Act by Government.

7. WHO CAN TERMINATE THE PREGNANCY?
• A Registered Medical practitioner (RMP ) who
has a recognized Medical qualification as
defined in clause ( b) of Sec 2 of indian
Medical Counsel Act, 1956.
 Whose name is registered in a state Medical
register.
Who has training experience as per MTP rules

8. EXPERIENCE OF RMP
 Who is registered in state medical register immediately
before the commencement of act, experience in the
practice of gynecology and obstetrics for not less than 3
years
 A practitioner who has assisted a registered medical
practitioner in performing 25 cases of MTP of which at
least 5 cases were performed independently in a
hospital or a training institute approved for this
purpose by the Government

9. .
 A practitioner who holds a post-graduate degree or
diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology
 A practitioner who has at least one-year experience
in practice of Obstetrics and Gynecology at a hospital
which has all facilities.
 A practitioner who has completed six months house
job in Obstetrics and Gynecology

10. REQUIREMENT FOR APPROVAL OF PLACE
Medical termination of pregnancy can be done
only at any approve place.
The application for the approval of place should
be addressed to the Chief Medical Officer of the
district who shall verify or inspect such place
with a view to ascertain himself that the
following conditions are satisfied:
 Gynecology examination / labor table
 Resuscitation and sterilization equipment.
 Back up facilities for treatment of shock

11. .
 An Operation table and instruments for
performing abdominal or gynecological surgery
& anesthetic equipment
Chief Medical Officer recommends approval to
the committee and committee consider an
application & recommendation and approve
and issue certificate of approval.
Chief Medical Officer of the district may inspect
an approved place as often as necessary.

12. MAINTENANCE OF ADMISSION REGISTER
• Maintain records As per Form III
• Record the detail
• Keep in secret custody for 5 years from the
end of calendar year it relates to;
• It is not disclosed to anyone except under
authority of law

13. THANK YOU