NEW DELHI: Members of the public and representatives have pointed out the possible misuse of the amendment law that allows for abortion during the Lok Sabha. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday night. Union Health Minister Dean Kuriakose, the MP from Kerala, was the only one to speak out against the bill introduced by Harshavardhan. Women MPs spoke in favor of the bill, pointing out that the timing was inevitable and progressive.
Dean Kuriakose accused the big corporations in the country of hastening and simplifying the provisions of the abortion law. Under the 1971 law, abortions were permitted on the basis of a medical officer’s certification for abortion up to 12 weeks, two medical officers up to 20 weeks, and on the recommendation of the medical board elected after 20 weeks.
According to the new amendment, abortion is possible if a doctor recommends 20 weeks and two doctors 20 to 24 weeks. Simplification in this way is only to promote uncontrolled abortion. By 25 weeks the embryo reaches full maturity. Dean pointed out that abortion at that stage is in effect legalizing murder and denying people the right to life as mandated by the Constitution.
India is the eighth country in the world to simplify abortion after 20 weeks. Doctors who promote abortion by forged certificates must be prosecuted. In addition, Dean Kuriakos pointed out that multinational corporate companies around the world are promoting abortion when considering the use of the human embryo for cosmetics.
The legislation was passed to increase the permissive period for abortion to 24 weeks after pregnancy. The current allowable period for abortion is 20 weeks. The provision of the bill only allows rape victims or seriously injured women to have an abortion within the permitted period. It is not permissible to disclose the personal details of an abortion woman except to those who are legally required to do so.
The law, passed in 1971, permits abortions for up to five months. Under the current law, an abortion cannot be performed if it is found within five months after the child has developed an impairment, including health reasons. The central government’s explanation is that the bill is being put in line with the progressive standpoint of solving this problem.
The Central Government, including the Minister of Health, explained that women have the right to decide whether or not to continue their pregnancy as per their own decision. Neither rape children, minors, and heterosexual girls are likely to know about pregnancy immediately. “Such persons can be aborted independently within six months and the amendment of the law can be done,” Prakash Javadekar said. Another government clarification is that the new move will also reduce the infant mortality rate. It is revealed that 10 women die annually in India due to unsafe abortions.
