Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

1. (a) "advertisement" means any notice, circular, label, wrapper, printed matter or other document on display and also includes any announcement or visible representation made with the help of light, sound, smoke, gas, cinematograph films or video tapes;
2. (b) "Appropriate Authority" means the State Appropriate Authority constituted by the State Government under section 6;
3. (c) "Genetic Clinic" or "clinic" means a place registered under this Act for the purpose of carrying out the activities of a Genetic Counselling Centre as well as a Genetic Laboratory;
4. (d) "Genetic Counselling Centre" or "centre" means an Institute, Hospital, Nursing Home or any place by whatever name called, registered under this Act for providing genetic counselling to patients and for performing obstetrical or gynaecological procedures such as foetoscopy, taking samples of amniotic fluid, Chorionic Villi, blood or any tissue of a pregnant female for being sent to genetic clinic or laboratory for pre-natal diagnostic test;
5. (e) "Genetic Laboratory" or "laboratory" means a place registered as such under this Act which provides facility for carrying out the analysis or tests of samples received from Genetic Counselling Centres for pre-natal diagnostic;
6. (f) "Gynaecologist" means a person who has acquired a post-graduate qualification in Gynaecology after obtaining M.B.B.S. degree;
7. (g) "local Vigilance Committee" means a Committee appointed under section 16;
8. (h) "Medical Geneticist" means a person who has acquired a degree or diploma or certificate in Medical Genetics in the field of pre-natal diagnostic techniques or has experience of at least two years of work in that field after obtaining any of the following degrees, namely :—
   • (i) M.B.B.S. or any other degree equivalent thereto;
   • (ii) M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Biological Sciences or any other degree equivalent thereto;
   • (i) "pre-natal diagnostic procedures" means all gynaecological or obstetrical or medical procedures such as foetoscopy, taking or removing samples of amniotic fluid, Chorionic Villi, blood or any tissue of a pregnant female for being sent to a genetic clinic or laboratory for pre-natal diagnostic test;
9. (j) "pre-natal diagnostic Technique" includes all pre-natal diagnostic procedures and pre-natal diagnostic tests;
10. (k) "pre-natal diagnostic test" means any test or analysis of amniotic fluid, Chorionic Villi, blood or any tissue of a pregnant female carried out in a Genetic clinic or laboratory in order to detect genetic or metabolic disorders or chromosomal abnormalities or certain congenital anomalies or haemoglobinopathies or sex-linked diseases;
11. (l) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
12. (m) "Registered medical practitioner" means a medical practitioner who possesses any recognised medical qualification as defined in clause
13. (h) of section 2 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, and whose name has been entered in the register prepared or deemed to be prepared and maintained under the Maharashtra Medical Council Act, 1965;
14. (n) "State Vigilance Committee" means the Committee appointed by the State Government under section 13;
15. (o) "Voluntary Organisation" means any Voluntary Organisation working in the field of Health or Women Welfare or Human Rights.