Indian state bans unnecessary surgery on intersex babies
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An Indian state has banned sex assignment surgery on babies whose sex is not clear at birth, a health official said on Wednesday, in a first to protect intersex children.
The landmark move was made in response to an April order by Tamil Nadu's top court to prohibit such surgeries - which research suggests can cause long-term mental and physical damage - except in life-threatening situations. "The (government order) was issued as per the high court's directive to protect intersex children from these so-called normalizing surgeries," said a ministry official, who declined to be named as he was not authorized to speak to the media.
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About 1.7% of children are born intersex - with reproductive organs, genitals, hormones or chromosomes that do not fit the usual expectations of male and female, the United Nations says. Doctors often perform surgery to make intersex babies genitalia look and function like that expected of males or females, in the belief it will make their lives easier and ease parental distress.
The landmark move was made in response to an April order by Tamil Nadu's top court to prohibit such surgeries - which research suggests can cause long-term mental and physical damage - except in life-threatening situations. "The (government order) was issued as per the high court's directive to protect intersex children from these so-called normalizing surgeries," said a ministry official, who declined to be named as he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Read Also:- National ban on new types of tobacco introduction like E- Cigarettes is required – Dr Kirit Bhai Solanki PTI
About 1.7% of children are born intersex - with reproductive organs, genitals, hormones or chromosomes that do not fit the usual expectations of male and female, the United Nations says. Doctors often perform surgery to make intersex babies genitalia look and function like that expected of males or females, in the belief it will make their lives easier and ease parental distress.
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