The MTP Act 1971 allows abortion up to ?

RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2022

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Easy

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2022

Explanation

The question specifically asks about the MTP Act of 1971.
Under the original 1971 Act, the legal upper limit for the termination of pregnancy was established at 20 weeks of gestation.
For pregnancies between 12 and 20 weeks, the opinion of two Registered Medical Practitioners was required.
For pregnancies up to 12 weeks, the opinion of only one Registered Medical Practitioner was needed.

Option A: This is incorrect. While abortion is permitted at 16 weeks, it is not the maximum gestational age allowed under the 1971 Act.
Option C: This is the revised upper limit for special categories of women (like survivors of rape, minors, etc.) introduced by the MTP Amendment Act of 2021, not the original 1971 Act.
Option D: This is incorrect. A gestational age of 28 weeks is beyond the legally permitted limit for abortion under both the original MTP Act and its amendments, except in rare cases of substantial fetal abnormalities approved by a medical board.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Gestational limit for abortion under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971 as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a crucial role in counseling women seeking MTP, ensuring they understand the legal framework, the procedure, and post-abortion care.
It is a nursing responsibility to verify that all legal requirements, such as correct gestational age assessment and necessary medical opinions, are documented before the procedure.
Patient advocacy is key. Nurses must ensure the patient's consent is informed and voluntary and that her confidentiality is maintained throughout the process.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it's asking for a specific legal provision from a particular law.
Pay close attention to the year mentioned: 'MTP Act 1971'. This is the critical detail that distinguishes the correct answer from distractors related to later amendments.
Recall the specific gestational limit set by the 1971 Act.
Evaluate the options. '20 weeks' directly corresponds to the 1971 Act's upper limit.
Mentally discard the '24 weeks' option by recognizing it as part of the 2021 amendment, which is a common distractor for this topic.
Confirm that the other options (16 and 28 weeks) are incorrect limits within the context of the 1971 law.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Gestational limit for abortion under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971.
Stem keywords: MTP Act 1971, abortion, allows up to
Lead-in keywords: BEST, MOST RELEVANT CLUE
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart C (pp 404-604 of 604) p. 199-200

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 1