Abortions by midwives, ayurved and homoeopath docs set to be legalized
Experts Welcome The Draft Law
The new Medical Termination
of Pregnancy (Amendment) draft bill says abortions can be performed not
only by allopathic doctors but by ayurveds, homoeopaths and midwives as
well. The draft bill, put up on the Union health ministry's
website for suggestions on Thursday , has increased the abortion
limit from the present 20 weeks to 24 weeks. “The draft says there is no
time limit in case doctors detect a foetal abnormality ,“ said
gynaecologist Dr Nikhil Datar, who took the issue to the Supreme Court
six years ago while treating Bhayander resident Niketa Mehta.
Mehta's unborn baby was detected with heart anomaly , prompting her to seek an abortion beyond the 20-week period. Two other Mumbaikars--allowed by the Supreme Court to only be identified as Mrs X and Mrs Y (see box) --joined Datar's petition last year. Experts believe the draft bill is one of the most liberal abortion documents.“This is the biggest advancement of women's rights since the passage of the MTP Act in 1971,“ said Vinod Manning of Ipas, an international NGO that works for the right to safe abortions. Indian women not only have to travel 20 to 45km to get access to an abortion centre, but one dies every two hours due to un safe abortions, shows an Ipas study .
Experts feel a wider option of abortion providers can give more women access to safe abortions. “It is very encouraging to note that the Bill reiterates the potential of AYUSH doctors and nursing staff for improving access to safe abortion services. A study by the Population Council in 2012 established that trained nurses and ayurvedic physicians provide medical abortion as safely and effectively as MBBS doctors,“ said Population Council's Shireen Jejeebhoy .
Dr Suchitra Dalvie, coordinator for the Asia Safe Abortion Partnership, said: “The long-awaited amendments to the MTP Act are certainly a step in the right direction towards ensuring women's reproductive rights in our country .'' The state governments should follow through to ensure proper training, equipment and drugs for women, especially in rural India, she added.
Medical ethicist Dr Suhas Pingle raised a voice of caution and said D&C (dilation & curettage) is a blind procedure. “If a person is not adequately trained, it can lead to ruptured uterus,“ he added.
Mehta's unborn baby was detected with heart anomaly , prompting her to seek an abortion beyond the 20-week period. Two other Mumbaikars--allowed by the Supreme Court to only be identified as Mrs X and Mrs Y (see box) --joined Datar's petition last year. Experts believe the draft bill is one of the most liberal abortion documents.“This is the biggest advancement of women's rights since the passage of the MTP Act in 1971,“ said Vinod Manning of Ipas, an international NGO that works for the right to safe abortions. Indian women not only have to travel 20 to 45km to get access to an abortion centre, but one dies every two hours due to un safe abortions, shows an Ipas study .
Experts feel a wider option of abortion providers can give more women access to safe abortions. “It is very encouraging to note that the Bill reiterates the potential of AYUSH doctors and nursing staff for improving access to safe abortion services. A study by the Population Council in 2012 established that trained nurses and ayurvedic physicians provide medical abortion as safely and effectively as MBBS doctors,“ said Population Council's Shireen Jejeebhoy .
Dr Suchitra Dalvie, coordinator for the Asia Safe Abortion Partnership, said: “The long-awaited amendments to the MTP Act are certainly a step in the right direction towards ensuring women's reproductive rights in our country .'' The state governments should follow through to ensure proper training, equipment and drugs for women, especially in rural India, she added.
Medical ethicist Dr Suhas Pingle raised a voice of caution and said D&C (dilation & curettage) is a blind procedure. “If a person is not adequately trained, it can lead to ruptured uterus,“ he added.
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