'Stung' by TV stings, doctors resolve to fight female foeticide

Ahmedabad, Apr 30 (UNI) As Gujarat grapples with an extremely skewed child sex ratio, with just 878 girls per thousand boys, a number of doctors have decided to pitch in their bit to stop sex selective abortions in the State.

They plan to form a group to see to it that no doctor in the State carries out sex determination (SD) tests. ''We will first pursuade the gynaecologists and the radiologists not to indulge in these practices. If they do not relent, we will identify them and inform the government. If prosecuted they will lose their registration with the Medical Council,'' said Dr Jignesh Shah, president, Ahmedabad Obsetrics and Gynaecological Society (AOGS).

He admitted that the recent sting operation on doctors by a private channel has had its desired effect. ''Now practitioners are extremely panicky about carrying out SD tests. The expecting parents too are scared--previously they would demand to know the sex of the foetus, but now it is not so,'' he told UNI.

Dr Shah suggested that the government should carry such stings with the help of some experts and that would have a much bigger impact. ''They can announce it in the media before getting onto it.

This would spread panic among the errant doctors.'' Claiming that 99 per cent of the doctors in Ahmedabad are now not indulging in sex selective abortions, he said with recent crackdowns, and intra-fraternity monitoring, the results will show within few months.

Dr Vijay Shah, AOGS General Secretary said the Association will also take the message forward by interacting with the people at the grassroots level. ''We will try to approach them through religious organisations, support the NGOs in their campaigns and go to villages and slums to make people aware of the social implications of their actions. We also plan mass rallies for the purpose.'' He said they will also file an affidavit in which they will take a pledge not to indulge in sex determination tests. ''We had taken a vow regarding this at a meet in February. Now with an affidavit, it will be more concrete,'' he said.

Dr Shah said the Association, which has 630 (out of 750 gynaecologists in the city) members, has adopted 'a smiling girl child' as its logo and 'Stop Female Foeticide, Stop Sex Determination' as the motto.

He claimed that the doctors who carry out the tests may be doing it as a personal favour and not money. ''Many a times, patients become close to the doctors through constant interaction, and hence try to emotionally blackmail them into giving out the information.'' However, he said the doctors have to realise their social responsibility. ''If we do not conduct the tests and the abortions, then much of the problem is solved,'' he stressed.

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