Under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act 2021 of India, a 23-year-old unmarried woman requests termination of a 7-week pregnancy. Whose consent is legally required?
- A Her consent along with her partner's consent
- B Her own written consent alone ✓
- C Her consent along with her parents' consent
- D Consent certified by two registered medical practitioners
Correct answer: B. Her own written consent alone
Explanation
The Amendment Act removed the earlier linkage of MTP availability to marital status and deleted the clause referring to the husband's consent, so for an adult woman her own informed written consent is sufficient regardless of marital status. Parental or guardian consent is required only in addition to the minor's consent when the woman is below 18 years. Two practitioners are needed for opinion, not for consent certification.
Reference: Dutta's Textbook of Obstetrics, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.