The Hindu

Mangalore, Jun 1: The conflict between the law and the problem at hand while implementing the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PC and PNDT) came to the fore in the awareness camp that had been organised by the Health and Family Welfare Department here on Sunday.

According to the Act, only authorised radiologists can conduct scanning on pregnant women. But, in government hospitals there were no permanent radiologists and the gynaecologists were not authorised to conduct scanning, although they were capable of conducting it, said Shakunthala, gynaecologist at Lady Goshen Hospital. To address this problem, the Government should either appoint radiologists in its hospitals or train and authorise the gynaecologists to handle the job, she added. Legal consultant Rajeshwari Devi spoke on the implications of the Act and the punishment for its violation. Ms. Devi suggested Dr. Shakunthala to write to the district health officer and the Government urging them to send gynaecologists for training and authorising them to conduct scanning in government hospitals.

“Female foeticide is taking place owing to the provisions made to allow abortions up to five months of pregnancy,” said Rathidevi of Kasturba Medical College. If this was reduced to three months, the number of female foeticide would come down. The sex of the foetus could not be made out till third month of pregnancy. The rule related to abortion should be changed, she said. In his presidential address V.C. Hatti said: “There is a need to amend the rules but till that happens, the law should be adhered to.” Deputy Commissioner V. Ponnuraj inaugurated the workshop.