Amended Abortion Law Still Gives Doctors, Not Women, The Final Say

The amended abortion law has allowed termination of pregnancy up to 24 weeks but with a medical board's approval. Abortion is still not available on demand and a woman's agency is not recognised

By Akshita Nagpal
27 April, 2021

New Delhi: The terms for abortion have been liberalised in India after an amended law received the President's assent on March 25, 2021. But gender and reproductive rights activists are disappointed that the law still does not recognise abortion as a woman's choice that can be sought on-demand, as is the practice in 73 countries.

These are the key changes that the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP Amendment) Act, 2021, has brought in:

Continued: https://www.indiaspend.com/gendercheck/amended-abortion-law-still-gives-doctors-not-women-the-final-say-744747

India – Where is the medical technology in the latest MTP Bill 2020?

March 26, 2021
Jasmine Lovely George

If you read closely the Objective of latest Amendment in the Medical Termination Bill, 2020 you would really think that this Bill had an intention of coming to terms with advancement in medical technology. But that’s not the case. At an age where people are trying to colonise Mars, how difficult would it be to make abortion lot more easier and simpler for women and pregnant folks?

The latest law just made accessing abortion little more difficult.

Continued: https://hiddenpocketscollective.org/2021/03/26/where-is-the-medical-technology-in-the-latest-mtp-bill-2020/

26.03.2021

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Jasmine Lovely George

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India – The women who can’t get an abortion in lockdown

India's grinding national coronavirus lockdown complicated life for women trying to access safe abortions, and now cities are bringing back restrictions, reports Menaka Rao.

13 July 2020
Menaka Rao

In the last week of May, a 20-year old college-going woman in India's capital, Delhi, found out that she was pregnant.

The woman, Kiran, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, had already taken abortion pills on the advice of a friend who was a doctor. But they did not work and so, her only option was a surgical abortion.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-53345975

India – ‘Women always take the brunt’: India sees surge in unsafe abortion

Low priority for reproductive health during lockdown leaves millions unable to access contraception or safe terminations

Neha Thirani Bagri in Mumbai
Published on Mon 13 Jul 2020

Sadhna Gupta* discovered she was pregnant just after India imposed a crippling lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The 21-year-old from the eastern Indian city of Bhubaneswar didn’t want to be pregnant. With no public transport available, clinics closed and Bhubaneswar at a standstill, she bought an abortion pill without consulting a doctor. While what she did was not unusual, Indian law requires a prescription for the pills from a licensed medical professional.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/jul/13/women-always-take-the-brunt-india-sees-surge-in-unsafe-abortion

India – Lockdown cuts off access to abortions and sexual health care for many women

Lockdown cuts off access to abortions and sexual health care for many women
Limiting access to contraceptives and medical termination of pregnancies (MTPs) would only result in women turning to unsafe measures.

Dr Nimeshika Jayachandran
Sunday, May 17, 2020

Two weeks after the lockdown had been announced, 26-year-old Avantika*, a resident of Mumbai found herself panicking after a home pregnancy test she took was positive.

“I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t believe it at first and took 2 more tests which also were positive, and that’s when I really started to panic. I live with my friend and her cousin, who really supported me through the whole process. My friend’s cousin called up a few hospitals near where we live to find out if we could get a scan to confirm the pregnancy, nearly all of them said no,” she says.

continued: https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/lockdown-cuts-access-abortions-and-sexual-health-care-many-women-124734

India – Hidden Pockets is taking the conversation on sexual and reproductive health mainstream

Hidden Pockets is taking the conversation on sexual and reproductive health mainstream
Jasmine Lovely George founded Hidden Pockets, a platform for sexual and reproductive health to help women find non-judgemental clinics in their cities. It also demands and helps to create policy-level changes.

By Nirandhi Gowthaman
8th May 2020

Sexual and reproductive health are essential services, especially for women. However, it is engulfed in stigma and taboos that make it difficult for women to find proper care and treatment.

After experiencing such a situation, Jasmine Lovely George, a lawyer from Delhi, decided to start Hidden Pockets to help women find non-judgemental medical facilities that provide sexual and reproductive health services like abortion.

Continued: https://yourstory.com/herstory/2020/05/hidden-pockets-sexual-reproductive-womens-health

08.05.2020

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India – Women are finding it difficult to access abortion care, an essential service during lockdown

Women are finding it difficult to access abortion care, an essential service during lockdown
The closure of private clinics, lack of mobility and lockdown rules are restricting women from access to abortion care.

By Nirandhi Gowthaman
6th May 2020

The coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown has adversely affected many communities and subsections of society especially the poor, migrant labourers, marginalised communities and women. Particularly, pregnant women, new mothers and women seeking abortions have been affected due to lack of resources during the lockdown.

The Ministry of Health in its note on providing essential healthcare services said, “Focusing on COVID-19 related activities, and continuing to provide essential services, is important not only to maintain people’s trust in the health system to deliver essential health services, but also to minimise an increase in morbidity and mortality from other health conditions.”

Continued: https://yourstory.com/herstory/2020/05/women-difficult-access-abortion-lockdown-essential-service