IIT Scientists to develop software to regulate sex determination

"I found that it is difficult for the authorities to find out who does sex determination. So, why not restrict access?" IIT-M, Assistant professor, Arun K Thittai said speaking to TOI.

Though no clinical trials have been conducted, Assistant Professor Thittai confesses it to be theoretically possible. "The probes on the ultrasound machines will gather all the information but we can blur out certain parts of the output images using software programs.I gather that the sex of the child will be important only when there is a medical condition that affects a particular gender,” he added. If the doctors do want to determine the sex of the patient they, will have to use a password to make the image clear.

The local authorities will receive an alert as soon as the doctors enter the password to decode the image.

Though such arrangements have yet to be published in medical journals, patents do exist in China said Thittai. "I don't know if they have undergone clinical trials," he  further added.

Software programs once implemented would help identify doctors who accessed and saw these images as and when required said a government official.

"Over a period time, we will be able to develop protocols how and when to use the password," added the official.. "Nevertheless, should be tested in the field," he reiterated.