Complaints against doctors for sex determination tests, abortion
Picture for representational purpose
Coimbatore: The Tamil Nadu Medical Council (TNMC) is now sitting on four complaints against doctors involved in sex determination and abortion. The TNMC which has so far not debarred any doctor on such complaints, is now on a new path calling the ethical committee members to discuss action to be taken against the doctors for the violation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994 (PC&PNDT Act) 1994.
Speaking to DC, council president, Dr V.S. Durairaj, said, “So far, we have not debarred any doctor for abortion and sex determination complaints. This year, we have received documents from the health department on doctors who have violated the PC&PNDT Act. We will proceed with the complaints and debar these doctors from practice for some years depending on the severity of their act.”
He said the ethical committee of the council would decide on the period of debarment for the doctors, and this could range from a minimum of three months to several years.
Dr G.R. Ravindranath of the Doctors Association for Social Equality, a voluntary body of doctors, said many doctors entertain patients to make money in their business.
“In this era of capitalism and consumerism, many doctors want to get rich fast by milking patients. Some doctors engage in sex determination tests because of competition among their fraternity. Sex selective abortion is a socio-economic issue in which family members of the pregnant woman are also involved,” he said.
Beyond this, many instances of foetuses and infants being thrown into dustbins and water bodies are often being reported in the western districts of Tamil Nadu. Recently, a ten-day-old female infant was found in a gunny bag in Erode district. A one-day infant was found floating in a lake at Yercaud in Salem district last week.
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