The country’s largest body of doctors, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), has sought the law banning prenatal sex determination to be cancelled which was implemented 24 years ago.

Sex-selective abortions is the one of the biggest curse which currently is prevalent in India, leading to a distorted male-female demographic despite several well-publicized efforts to improve the sex ratio, womens health and mortality. Sex selective abortions have led to huge variations in sex ratios according to a global study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences with 10.6 missing million females in India alone.

The Pre-conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act 1994 (PCPNDT) was enacted with a vision to reduce sex-selective abortions and female foeticide.

The Act also prohibits pre-natal ultrasound testing for sex-selective purposes. Only medical institutions which are registered under the Act have the license to legally own ultrasound, imaging or scanning machines. Strict records have to be maintained and diagnostic techniques can only be conducted on a pregnant person where conditions specified under the Act are met.

IMA President,  Shantanu Sen has described it as a black law which has miserably failed in achieving its objectives in the past 24 years and was instrumental in harassing the obstetricians and radiologists.

Dr RV Asokan, Secretary General of IMA, said that these “archaic provisions” were a major problem saying that even clerical errors or an accident in paperwork can cost a medical practitioner their license. Hundreds of obstetricians and technicians have been unduly harassed because of this Act. He also said that at least six doctors had been jailed for a year in Maharashtra after they were arrested for undue errors.

Dr Asokan further told News18 that female foeticide is a social problem, not a medical one. Isolating doctors and putting the entire onus of preventing sex-selective abortion on medical professionals and ultrasound machines is merely unfair. He further said that the law no longer works, adding that there had been no significant change in sex-ratio in favour of girl children at a national level since the Act came into effect.

Dr. Anant Bhan, researcher, Bioethics and Global Health Laws said that there is a need to keep up with developments in technology and pointed out two key issues significant to the Act: low conviction rates and potential benefits of non-obstetric use of the test. He also expressed support for a relook at aspects of the law, but certainly not repealing it as demanded by IMA.

Dr. Bhan further added that the fact that couples are choosing alternative methods was evident that the Act was working with regards to avoidance of misuse of obstetric ultrasound. Studies conducted in Haryana show that the prevalence of sex-selective drugs which pregnant women consume in order to increase chances of getting a male son.

The BJP government has emphasised on "Beti Bachao Beti Padhao" as a national campaign to improve the condition of the girl child.

Source: https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/doctors-want-law-banning-sex-determination-tests-gone-say-dont-put-onus-to-save-girl-child-on-us-2134157.html