Abstract

The debate over abortion highlights the complex and multifaceted nature of issues surrounding bodily autonomy and women’s rights. “Abortion” means medically induced termination of pregnancy. It is done in case, where a pregnancy poses a life-threatening medical problem, or when foetus has a serious incurable medical condition. The philosophy behind abortion lies at the core of broader and non-compromising principle of bodily autonomy.” Bodily autonomy” refers to a women’s right to make decisions about their own body without interference from others, which extends to reproductive autonomy as held in the 2017 judgment of Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India. It is jeopardized when an abortion is performed without the women’s informed consent or by illegal procedures. Right of abortion ignites another issue of foeticide i.e., killing of foetus or unborn child using several medical technologies further highlighting the need for controlled and systematic use of the contemporary innovations in medical field. Author has attempted to explain the best approach to be adopted towards the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971.

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