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Fighting female foeticide

According to recent Census figures, the sex ratio in India has tilted significantly in favour of males as a result of increasing female foeticide incidence in the country, say experts. And the medical community has played a major role in this development. A recent technological innovation in the west has only come as a dangerous addition to existing woes. A US-based company has started offering pre-conceptual gender selection for a hefty price. And the implications of this technology’s arrival in India could be too serious to handle, fear experts. In this context, should this technology be banned in India? Will the medical community take up this social obligation and dissuade its members from indulging in such practices? Here we present a few views...

Joy Chakraborty
Asst. Administrator
Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute (DU)
Chennai - 600 116

We consider ourselves as a citizen of a developing country. All of us are aware of what the basis of this categorization is, who are all behind the selection of these criteria/ parameters. So, we try to develop ourselves to enjoy the privilege of being considered as a citizen of a developed country. We are following the footsteps of US and other countries in in so many ways to achieve that destination in a short span of time. But unfortunately we forget our own tradition, heritage, culture. So it is very natural that within a few day Indians will adopt the new technology of pre-conceptual gender selection.

Before acceptance of this new technology we can study the actual reason behind all their innovation. As the human society is becoming so called civilised we are converting themselves into power centres. All the developed countries have invented new technology for nuclear weapons. As a result, poor countries like India, where people do not have access to proper healthcare, education, safe water are forced to spend a huge amount of resources to import nuclear weapon or technologies from other countries to develop in its own country. On the other hand government and NGOs from those countries come out with their business proposals. They use our people as sample for their research purpose. Since they invest a lot of money, we feel we are blessed but after invention of the technology, it is offered to us at a high price. They will not allow us to become independent by enforcing patient right. Recently we have seen another trend.

To penetrate the customers of poor countries and to increase the consumerism towards the cosmetic product, so called developed countries are encouraging beauty contest where they are promoting their products by the selection of the super models from those countries where they are looking for their business opportunity. The present technological development of pre-conceptual gender selection is also a good business offer from their side. Economic growth depends upon the stability in the sex ratio of the population. But the recent census figure has given a warning message by showing the sex ratio in India has tilted significantly in favour of males. If govt allows or accepts this technology then the situation may become more threatening for the nation.

Instead of going for retrospective analysis in future and formulating strategies like more reservation in job market, State assembly or Parliament for women; government can strengthen the moral power of women by restricting the entry of this new technology. We have noticed the outcome of human genome project, we have analysed different study results by which it is clear that men and women are equal in all aspects. Even when it is a question of child birth, father’s contribution is only in number of chromosomes where all nutrients and support comes from mother. So, we should not welcome such technology which may affect our socio-economic-cultural values. Why should we encourage female foeticide, when our country has delivered pioneers and talents like Leelabati, Gargi, Khana for the development of humanity along ago. We are the follower of the goddess who are the symbol of power , knowledge and wisdom, even we have seen in our history that women have dedicated their life for self-respect and to their respect to husband and family members. If we welcome this new technology; we will not show our respect to them by restricting it we can pay our tribute and homage to those artists who are all contributed in the creation of culturally, philosophically enriched country known as India.

Ram Nath Prasad
Hospital Administrator
Sankalp Hospitals Private Limited
Jamnagar, Gujarat

Pre-conceptual gender selection technology originated in USA, has to be banned in India due to following reasons:

Social: For any society to exist in harmony, there has to be a gender balance. Both male and female, equally contribute to the growth of the society. If pre-conceptual gender selection tilts the balance towards a particular gender, it will be against the order of nature. Think of the society, where males or females outnumber their counterparts and the process continues. It will bring anarchy. If there are too many females or too many males, many things may happen which will be against the nature, for example, females outnumbering males may bring the evils like polygamy or lesbianism. Similarly, males outnumbering females will encourage the evils like polyandry or gayism to creep in. The choice for the sex of a child must be left on the nature. The nature always plays a balancing role.

Medical: Whenever, one tries to thrust its will on the nature, nature backfires. As explained above, disturbing gender balance in the society will have its own adverse effect. We must learn the lesson from the diseases like AIDS. AIDS, the dreaded disease, is a curse on the society by Nature. Encouraging a particular gender bias, will have adverse affect on the general health of the society. Polygamy, polyandry, gayism and lesbianism - the possible fall-outs of gender imbalance will create many health complications in the society.

Today, we boast of scientific advancement. By going against the nature, we have brought in the dreaded diseases in the society and thereafter we are doing research on their cure. What is greatness in it? How far shall we go like this? Are we not living in a fool’s paradise?

Moral: Today, majority of us have forgotten the moral values. I am sure very few of us can correctly define the term ’morality’. But now the time has come that we must bring in the element of morality in all our thoughts and actions. Think of a female foetus being killed just because it is a female. Have we lost our senses? Everybody, you, me and all, have come to this earth from a female’s womb. A female is the cause of our being on this earth. Should we not express our gratitude for them? Are we doing it? Doctors must remember the Hippocrates’ oath. They must not kill the female foetus simply beacuse their parents do not want it and they are getting a hefty price for it. Then, they are not doctors but criminals. Doctors by such acts will doing moral crimes and they will have to pay for it, sooner or later.

Historical (based on orthodox): This is very much applicable in India. We are still having a orthodox society. There are many myths deep-rooted in our society. Many people believe that the last rites must be performed by sons only for getting ‘Moksh’. What a non-sense? Now-a-days, sons do not hesitate to desert their parents as soon as they get married and parents are looking forward for their ‘Moksh’ by their last rites being performed by such unworthy sons! Morever, sons have to be away from their parents in connection with their jobs/service and they, in all likelihood, may not reach to their parents’ place in case of such eventuality, so where goes the concept of ‘Moksh’? Daughters remains unwanted lots because of economical reasons. Parents think of daughters as liabilities. Also, daughters in our society (in majority of the cases) are not the earning members of the family and therefore, they are not considered at par with sons. All these speak of unfortunate and dark side of our society. There can be a lengthy discussion on it and therefore, let us not divert from the main issue. We can not change such gender bias in our society overnight but we can not allow to happen it uninterrutped,too and therefore, banning the pre-conceptual gender selection technology will be an attempt for curbing such inhuman practices.

Solutions: Permanent solution is possible only when there is cultural change in the thoughts. I am not very hopeful that the present generation of medical community, will take up this social obligation and dissuade its members from indulging in such practices. We (which includes doctors, too) have unquenching thrust for money. The definition of ’Happiness’ is changed. Doctors see happiness in their high fees. The means remain no longer important. Money must come by hook or crook. In such a scenario, they need to be forced not to indulge themselves in such practices out of fear from the law of the land, rather leaving the matter to their conscience.

We should also work for a better society by creating value based eduaction. There is need for moral lessons in the curriculum. Medical curriculam, too, must emphasise on ethics and moral values. We have very long long road to travel for a voluntary acceptance of moral values by society but we must remain optimistic and keep on trying for betterment.

The Confederation of Indian Industry organised a CEOs policy Forum on Healthcare Services recently. The Forum suggested that the government should focus on primary and secondary care, leaving tertiary care to private sector. The private sector would in turn, make available a percentage of their bed capacity free for the needy. In this regard, we invite our readers to send in their responses and opinions on ---- ‘Should private hospitals allocate a certain percentage of their total bed capacity for the underprivileged?’ Please send your opinions at ehm@rediffmail.com

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