President Appeals to Prevent Misuse of Diagnostic Tests to Curb Female Feticide

In order to curb female feticide, President Pratibha Patil has appealed to the medical fraternity to ensure that diagnostic tests are not misused for pre-natal sex determination. While inaugurating the 64^th National Conference of the Indian Radiologist and Imaging Association the President said, "We have laws and legal provisions that specially prohibit medical practitioners from disclosing the gender of the fetus. It is not only illegal, but it is socially immoral and detrimental to society. It is very important that all medical facilities, doctors and radiologists adhere to this so as to prevent female feticide."

She referred to female feticide as a 'disgrace' to the society. She said, "A skewed population composition, due to a bias against the girl child, can have many adverse social consequences. We have a social responsibility to bring about an end to prejudices and discrimination against the girl child. We must encourage all such steps that will contribute to the welfare of the girl child - proper nutrition, education, opportunity to work and to be financially independent. A girl child is an asset to the nation."

Source-Medindia