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Chapter-03 Critical Appraisal of the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act

BOOK TITLE: Recent Advances in Forensic Medicine & Toxicology (Volume 2)

Author
1. Onkar Prashant
ISBN
9789352701247
DOI
10.5005/jp/books/14137_4
Edition
1/e
Publishing Year
2018
Pages
20
Author Affiliations
1. NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India, E-mail: drprashantonkar@gmail.com
Chapter keywords
Preconception diagnostic technique, prenatal diagnostic technique, sex determination, female feticide, abortion, PCPNDT Act, obstetric ultrasound, illegal advertisement

Abstract

Discrimination against females is widespread in India and manifests itself in many ways, including gender-biased sex selection. The practice of sex selection is evident from the decline in the child sex ratio to 914 girls per 1,000 boys in 2011 (from 976 in 1961). One of the major reasons for the decline is attributed to the introduction and proliferation of modern technology that enables sex determination, thereby reinforcing societal mindsets for son preference. In order to prohibit sex selection and prevent misuse of technology for pre-conception and pre-natal sex determination, the Government of India enacted the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994 renamed after amendment as “The Pre-conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act” referred to as PCPNDT Act. The strict implementation of the PCPNDT Act has helped in creating a positive trend with respect to the female child sex ratio in several states. A detailed discussion on PCPNDT Act has been given in this chapter.

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