Salem doctor arrested for illegal foetal sex determination, clinic sealed

Salem: A woman doctor in Vazhapadi, Salem district, was arrested for allegedly illegally determining and revealing the sex of a foetus, after health officials found that she had reportedly accepted Rs 30,000 from a pregnant woman. Authorities seized scan equipment, abortion pills and cash from her clinic and sealed the facility. 

The action followed a complaint against the clinic located on Cuddalore Road. Officials alleged that pregnant women were charged additional fees for determining the sex of their unborn children. 

A health department team led by senior district officials conducted a raid at the facility. During the inspection, officials found that the doctor had allegedly taken Rs 30,000 from a pregnant woman for determining the sex of her fetus.

The doctor was subsequently handed over to the police for further legal action.  

Officials said the clinic had previously come under the health department’s scrutiny for similar violations. According to them, the facility had been raided twice earlier, following which restrictions were imposed on the doctor’s ability to conduct scans and provide treatment. Cases had also been registered during the earlier instances.

The latest raid resulted in the seizure of the scanning equipment and other materials from the clinic. Health officials sealed the premises after the inspection.   

The case comes amid continued enforcement of laws prohibiting the use of prenatal diagnostic techniques for determining the sex of a fetus. Such practices are prohibited under India’s Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 (PCPNDT Act).  

According to TOI, Health department officials said this was not the first violation by the clinic. It had been raided twice earlier, and the doctor had faced restrictions on conducting scans and treatments, they said. Cases were registered against her then too.

Authorities are now investigating the alleged transaction and the circumstances under which the fetal sex was reportedly disclosed. Further legal action is expected based on the police investigation and findings of the health department.