In India abortion is legal up to-

RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2023

Forensic Nursing & Indian laws

Easy

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2023

Explanation

Under the original Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act of 1971, the standard upper gestational limit for legal abortion was 20 weeks.
This limit required the opinion of two registered medical practitioners for pregnancies between 12 and 20 weeks.
While the MTP (Amendment) Act, 2021 has extended the limit to 24 weeks for special categories, 20 weeks remains the correct answer among the given options as it represents the general upper limit for those not falling into these specific categories.

Option A: This is incorrect. While medical abortions are common at this early stage, the legal limit extends much further.
Option B: This is incorrect. Abortion is permissible at 16 weeks, but this is not the maximum legal limit.
Option D: This is incorrect as a general legal limit. Termination beyond 24 weeks is only permitted in exceptional cases of substantial fetal abnormalities, as determined by a Medical Board.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Legal gestational limits for abortion under India's Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a vital role in counseling women about their reproductive rights, including the legal options for MTP, ensuring they receive accurate information about gestational limits and the required procedures.
It is a nurse's ethical and legal responsibility to maintain confidentiality and provide non-judgmental care to women seeking abortion services.
What if? A 23-week pregnant woman who is a survivor of sexual assault seeks an abortion. The nurse must recognize that under the MTP Amendment Act 2021, this patient falls into a special category and is legally eligible for termination up to 24 weeks, and should guide her through the process of obtaining opinions from two RMPs.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: the legal upper limit for abortion in India.
Recall the key legislation, which is the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act.
Remember that the original Act (1971) set the limit at 20 weeks. The new Amendment (2021) introduced a higher limit of 24 weeks for special cases.
Examine the options provided: 6, 16, 20, 26 weeks.
Since 24 weeks is not an option, and 20 weeks was the long-standing general limit, select 20 weeks as the best fit among the choices, representing the standard threshold.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Legal gestational limits for abortion under India's Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act.
Stem keywords: India, abortion, legal, pregnancy
Lead-in keywords: up to
Negative lead-in flag: false

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