The MTP Act recommends termination of pregnancy by a single doctor when the pregnancy does NOT exceed?

Appeared in: DSSSB -28 August 2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021, revised the gestational age limits for abortions.
Under this new act, the opinion of only one Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) is required to terminate a pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation.
This updated the previous rule from the 1971 Act, which required one doctor's opinion only up to 12 weeks.
For pregnancies between 20 and 24 weeks, the opinion of two RMPs is now required for specific categories of women.
For pregnancies beyond 24 weeks with substantial fetal abnormalities, a Medical Board's approval is necessary.

Option A: This was the limit under the original MTP Act of 1971. It is now outdated.
Option B: 14 weeks is not a specific legal threshold defined in either the original or the amended MTP Act for determining the number of doctors' opinions required.
Option C: Similar to 14 weeks, 16 weeks is not a specific legal cutoff point in the MTP Act for the number of required medical opinions.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act and its amendments as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must be aware of the current legal framework surrounding MTP to provide accurate information and counseling to patients.
Understanding the correct gestational limits and requirements ensures that the nurse can guide the patient appropriately through the healthcare system and prevent delays in care.
Accurate documentation of gestational age is critical, as it determines the legal pathway for termination.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it's asking for a specific legal detail from the MTP Act concerning a 'single doctor'.
Recognize that this is a factual recall question based on Indian legislation.
Be mindful that laws, especially in healthcare, are often amended. The MTP Act is a prime example. Your knowledge must be current.
Evaluate the options based on the most recent amendment (MTP Amendment Act, 2021).
Recall or deduce that the 2021 amendment extended the limit for a single doctor's approval.
Select the option that reflects the current law, which is 20 weeks, and be wary of the '12 weeks' option, which is a common distractor based on the old law.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QF1jiujkpvhcYVoasZHyOd

E6 Midwifery Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Sandeep Kaur p. 17-25

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

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

Practise the full DSSSB -28 August 2019 (Shift-2)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.