After hearing the news that abortions due to wrong sex are being taking place in Britain, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has ordered an immediate inquiry into the matter. Abortion on the ground of sex of the fetus is illegal under the 1967 Act.
Not only the private clinics but the NHS doctors are also found to be agreeing to conduct abortions purely on the basis that parents do not want the unborn child due to his gender. It is immoral and illegal, said Lansley. He is quite concerned to hear the news and has asked his officials to investigate the matter.
The Daily Telegraph conducted a sting operation to know the reality. Some of their reporters accompanied a pregnant woman to nine clinics in different regions. At three places doctors agreed to conduct abortion as the lady told that she has conceived a girl and does not wants it as they need a boy.
None of the doctors told that it is unethical act and they will not conduct it. One of the doctors even told the lady that he will tackle all the legal hassles and the mother will not be any problem.
More than 1, 80, 000 abortions are carried out annually every year. The sting operation has clearly indicated that there might be many cases in which abortions would have been conducted due to gender, but were shown as non-medical reason termination in papers.
The Care Quality Commission, who is the real authority to investigate such conditions have stuck in problem. Questions are being raised on its efficacy, but CQC said, “We are very concerned at this information. We will be looking very carefully to see if any providers or doctors have breached our essential standards and will take appropriate action”.
—Agencies