Sex determination: ‘Targeted’, radiologists cry foul

Radiologists are up in arms against the state government’s move to put them under scanner to check sex determination tests.

While the state is targeting only radiologists to clamp down on sex determination tests, radiologists argue that sonography can also be done by gynaecologists and MBBS doctors.

Last week, Dr Ivan Rocha, a gynaecologist, was caught red-handed telling a woman the sex of her unborn child and also offering to abort the foetus.

“We have been telling the state to target abortion clinics and check their reports for discrepancies,” said Dr Jignesh Thakker, honorary secretary general of Indian Radiological and Imaging Association (IRIA).

The association has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court seeking to declare sections Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act (PCPNDT) ultravires that state that anyone with six months’ training or a year’s experience or a gynaecologist can perform sonography.

“The problem is none of these courses are recognised. These courses are opening up in every nook and corner of the country,” said Dr Thakker. The petition questions whether the centre and the Medical Council of India should allow doctors with dubious qualifications and trainings to perform sonography.

The state, according to IRIA, is wrong to target radiologists because they handle a variety of cases, not only obstetrics. “Ultrasound is used for imaging of thyroid, breast, scrotum, muscles, skeletal system, gastrointestinal tract, vascular system, among others,” said Dr Thakker.

State health minister Suresh Shetty had said that in a bid to curb sex selection, they would not allow single sonography machine centres.

“The state does not understand that they do not have the power to make rules in a Central act,” said Dr Thakker. He said he has submitted the list of centres ---- including those in Lokhandwala, Parbhani, Bhayander, Beed, Nagpur, Nashik, Parbhani, and Parali ---which they suspect is involved in sex selection tests.

Meanwhile, the municipal corporation’s health department is planning to track doctors involved in sex selection tests through parents who want to know the sex of the foetus.

“We are planning to form a group called Doctors against Sex Selection Technique. We want doctors from Indian Medical Association and other such organisation to join the group and take a stand that they will not let their colleagues indulge in illegal practices,” said Dr Asha Advani, special officer of BMC’s family welfare department.

She appealed to the doctors to reveal the names and numbers of patients who want to know the sex of their unborn child. “We want them to disclose the names and the contact numbers of these people because they are liable to be arrested,” said Advani.

Such parents can face three years jail and fine of Rs1,000.