Complete Guide to Mental Healthcare Act 2017 & Surrogacy Act 2021 — Notes & Exam Prep

This document provides a highly structured, point-by-point breakdown of two critical healthcare legislations in India. Formatted specifically for easy reading, scannability, and rapid retention, it eliminates fluff and focuses directly on exam-relevant clauses, timelines, and legal penalties.

Key Topics Covered:

Mental Healthcare Act, 2017:

Legal definition of mental illness vs. exclusions (Mental Retardation).

Informed consent, Advance Directives, and capacity assessment rules.

Admission pathways (Independent, Supported, and Minor admissions).

Emergency care frameworks, 72-hour limits, and strictly prohibited treatments (e.g., Seclusion/ECT restrictions).

Offenses, police guidelines, and legal penalty charts.

Surrogacy Act, 2021:

Distinction between Gestational, Traditional, and Altruistic surrogacy.

Strict eligibility criteria (who is allowed vs. who is excluded).

Consent protocols, pregnancy attempts, and the legal status of the child.

Clinic mandates, sex selection prohibitions, and strict multi-year penalty frameworks.