1. Medical Termination of Pregnancy
(MTP) Act
Dr Seema Mehrotra
Associate Professor
Dept Of OB&GYN
2. Induction of abortion
• Deliberate termination of pregnancy before the
viability of fetus is called induction of abortion.
• Induced abortion can be legal or illegal ( criminal )
• Up until the MTP act was passed, proving
abortion remained punishable under Indian law
• In case of death due to abortion procedure there
was punishment of upto 10 yers imprisonment
and fine.
3. • In India, abortion was legalised by medical
termination of pregnancy MTP act 1971 and
enforced in 1972 and provisions were revised
in 1975.
4. MTP Act: addressing a public
health priority
• Since legalization of abortion in India,
deliberate induction of abortion by
RMP( Registered Medical Practitoner) in
interest of mothers health and life is
protected under the MTP act
5. MTP Act:Aims
Aims to improve the maternal health scenario by preventing large
number of unsafe abortions and consequent high incidence of
maternal mortality & morbidity
Legalizes abortion services
Promotes access to safe abortion services to women
De-criminalizes the abortion seeker
Offers protection to medical practitioners who otherwise would be
penalized under the Indian Penal Code (sections 315-316)
6. Legal framework
• MTP Act
– lays down when & where pregnancies can be
terminated
– Grants the central govt. power to make rules and
the state govt. power to frame regulations
• MTP Rules
– lays down who can terminate the pregnancy,
training requirements, approval process for place,
etc.
• MTP Regulations
– lays down forms for opinion, maintenance of records
– custody of forms and reporting of cases
7. Legal abortions
Abortions are termed legal only when all the following
conditions are met:
– Termination done by a medical practitioner
approved by the Act
– Termination done at a place approved under the Act
– Termination done for conditions and within the
gestation prescribed by the Act
– Other requirements of the rules & regulations are
complied with
8. When can pregnancies be terminated?
• Up to 20 weeks gestation
• With the consent of the women. If the women is
below 18 years or is mentally ill, then with consent
of a guardian
• With the opinion of a registered medical practitioner,
formed in good faith, under certain circumstances
• Opinion of single RMP for termination upto 12
weeks
• Opinion of two RMPs required for termination of
pregnancy between 12 and 20 weeks
9. MTP Act: Indications
THERAPEUTIC OR MEDICAL
To save life of mother but limited and scarcely
justifiable except in :
1)Cardiac disease (NYHA gr III/ IV) with history of
decompensation I previous pregnancies or in
between pregnancies
2)Chronic glomerulonephritis
3)Malignant hypertension
4)Intractable hyperemesis gravidarum
5)Cervical and breast malignancies
6)DM with retinopathy
7)Epilepsy or psychiatric illness
10. Social indications
• This is almost sole indications to prevent grave
injury to physical and mental health of pregnant
woman
1)Pregnancy is caused by rape both in case of
major and minor girl and in mentally imbalanced
women
2)As a result of failure of contraception
3)In 80% cases it is limited to parous women having
unplanned pregnancy with low SE status
11. Eugenic indications
• Provision of substantial risk of child being born
with serious mental and physical abnormalties so
as to be handicapped In life
• 1) structural (anencephaly), chromosomal
( Downs syn) genetic ( haemophilia) abnormalties
in fetus
• 2) fetus likely to be deformed due to action of
teratogenic drugs or radiation exposure in early
pregnancy
• 3) rubella and viral infections in 1st
trimester
12. MTP Act: Place for conducting MTP
A hospital established or maintained by
Government
or
A place approved for the purpose of this Act by a
District-level Committee constituted by the
government with the CMHO as Chairperson
13. MTP Act amendment 2002
• MTP amendment act was passed in 2002
• Term Lunatic was replaced by – Mentally ill
• MTP place to be approved by a district level
committee chaired by CMO / DHO
• Defaulters- rigorous punishment for 2-7 yrs
• Owner of the place also responsible if
defaulter
14. Medical Abortion
• MTP using Mifepristrone (RU 486) & Misoprostol
approved for up to 7 weeks termination
• Only an RMP (as defined by the MTP Act) can
prescribe the drugs
• Has to follow MTP Act, Rules & Regulations
• Can prescribe in his/her clinic, provided he/she
has access to an approved place
• Should display a certificate from owner of
approved place agreeing to provide access
15. Implications of amendments
• Simplifies registration of sites which can be done
at district level now
• Providers can get their sites approved for
providing abortions under the MTP Act for 1st
trimester only or up to 20 weeks and thereby
come under the protective cover of the MTP Act
16. Implications of amendments
• Approved providers can provide medical
abortions from their clinic, as long as they have
access to an approved site
• Offers potential to increase number of approved
sites, which would enable women to access safe
abortion services
• Effective implementation will help to bring all
abortions within legal frame work
17. MTP rules: what are they for?
• Enable proper implementation of the provisions of
the Act
• Ensure that MTP services are provided by
qualified persons in safe and hygienic settings
• Help to monitor quality of services
18. MTP rules: what do they cover?
• Experience & training required for providers
• Approval of a place for terminating pregnancy
under the Act
• Composition & tenure of District Level Committee
• Inspection, cancellation or suspension of
approval; review
• Consent form
19. MTP rules: Who can perform?
A medical practitioner (RMP)
– who has a recognized medical qualification
– Whose name has been entered in a State
Medical Register and
– Who has such experience or training in
Gynecology and Obstetrics as prescribed by
Rules made under the Act
20. MTP rules: training requirement - 1
For termination up to 12 weeks:
– A practitioner who has assisted a registered
medical practitioner in performing 25 cases of MTP
of which at least 5 were performed independently in
a hospital established or maintained or a training
institute approved for this purpose by the
Government
21. MTP rules: training requirement - 2
For termination up to 20 weeks (opinion of 2 RMPs
required)
– A practitioner who holds a post-graduate degree
or diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology
– A practitioner who has completed six months
house job 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 registered in state medical register
immediately before commencement of the Act,
experience in practice of Obstetrics and
Gynecology for a period not less than three
years.
22. Approval of a place by trimester
For sites up to 12 weeks (1st
trimester)
• Gynecology examination/ labor table
• Resuscitation and sterilization equipment
• Drugs & parental fluids
• Back up facilities for treatment of shock
• Facilities for transportation
23. Approval of a place by trimester
For sites up to 20 weeks (1st
and 2nd
trimester):
• All requirements for up to 12 weeks +
• Operation table and instruments for performing
abdominal or gynecological surgery
• Anesthetic equipment, resuscitation equipment
and sterilization equipment
• Drugs & parental fluids notified for emergency
use, notified by Government of India from time to
time
24. Regulatory body: D L C
• District level MTP Committee
– Minimum of 3 & Maximum of 5 members
including chairperson (CM H O)
• Composition of the committee:
– One medical person (Gyne/Surgeon/Anestheist)
– One member from local medical profession; NGO
& Panchayati Raj Institution of the district.
– At least one member shall be a woman.
• Tenure 2 calendar years
– NGO members shall not have more than 2 terms
25. Approval Process
• Application in Form A to be addressed to CMHO
by place seeking approval
• CMHO verifies or inspects the place to satisfy
that termination can be done under safe &
hygienic conditions
• CMHO recommends approval to the committee
• Committee considers application &
recommendation and approve and issue
certificate of approval in Form B
28. Approval Process
• Place to be inspected within 2 months of
receiving application
• Certificate to be issued within 2 months of
inspection
• If deficiency found, within 2 months of deficiency
having been rectified
29. Inspection
• CMHOs to inspect to ensure safe & hygienic
conditions for conduction of MTPs.
• Call for information and seize in case found
otherwise
30. Cancellation/ Suspension
• CMHO to report the committee for unsafe and
unhygienic conditions.
• Committee can suspend or cancel approval after
giving the owner an opportunity for
representation
• Owner can reapply to the committee after
making additions and improvements.
• During suspension the place be deemed as non-
approved
32. Q1) All are the indications of therapeutic
termination of pregnancy except
• Cardiac disease in NYHA Gr IV
• Chronic severe glomerulonephritis
• Cervical malignancy
• Thyroid disorder
34. Q2) Following are the social indications for
termination of pregnancy
• Pregnancy caused by rape
• Unwanted pregnancy due to contraceptive
failure
• Parous women having unplanned pregnancy
• All of the above
35. Q3 ) Eugenic indications for termination of
pregnancy include all except
• Anencephalic baby
• Radiation exposure (>10 rads)
• Rubella infection in first trimester of
pregnancy
• SLE in mother
36. Q4 ) MTP can be performed by all except
• Person who has degree /diploma in OB &GYN
• Who has done 6 months house job in OB
&GYN
• Who has assisted in at least 10 MTPs in
authorized center
• Who has assisted in at least 25 MTPs in an
authorized center
37. A4) Who has assisted in at least 10 MTPs in
authorized center
38. Q5) All are true regarding MTP except
• Written consent of woman is required
• Husband consent is required
• Termination is permitted up to 20 weeks
• In case of minor girl/mentally retarded
woman written consent of the parents or legal
guardian is to be taken
40. Q6) Following are true regarding MTPact except
• MTP act came into force in 1972 and revised
in 1975
• Legalizes contraceptive services
• Offers protection to medical practitioners
• Improves maternal health by preventing large
numbers of unsafe abortions
42. Q7 The MTP law specifies
• Conditions under which pregnancy can be
terminated
• Person who can perform MTP
• Places where MTP can be performed
• All of the above
44. Q8) Regarding MTP following are true except
• Can be done upto 24 weeks
• Opinion of two RMPs is required for
termination between 12-20 weeks
• Should be conducted in a hospital established
or maintained by government
• Can be done if pregnancy results from
contraceptive failure
46. Q10) Medical abortion is done
• Up to 7 weeks
• Using Mifepristone and Misoprostol
• Drugs are prescribed only by Registered
Medical Practitioner
• All of the above
