Ludhiana, March 26
The amendments to the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994, have been made in such a manner that it will reduce the problems of the patients while shifting the onus of
implementation of the Act to ultrasonologists, manufacturers of ultrasound machines, gynaecologists, vaids and hakims.
Earlier, women between 15 and 45 years of age, were required to fill two forms (Form F and Form G) before going for any kind of ultrasound. But as per the recent amendments, the Form G is not required if only the ultrasound has to be done (for any other reason than pregnancy). The Form F will also be filled by only pregnant women between 15 and 45 years.
The onus has now shifted to the doctors to sign a declaration certificate. A doctor (who does the ultrasound) has to certify that he has not determined the sex of the foetus, nor has he told anything about the sex to the parents.
As per the new amendments, according to Section 3A of the Act, no person, including a specialist or a team of specialists in the field of infertility, shall conduct or cause to be conducted or aid in conducting by himself or by any other person, sex selection on a woman or a man or on both or on any tissue, embryo, conceptus, fluid or gamete derived from either or both of them.
