Question

Do you justify the statutory ban on amniocentesis in our country? Give reasons.

Answer 1

Amniocentesis:

Amniocentesis is a technique to find out the disorders and sex of the foetus based on the chromosomal pattern of the foetal cells present in the amniotic fluid surrounding the developing embryo.

Reason for ban of amniocentesis:

Reason for ban of amniocentesis are as follows:

• It has been misused for pre-natal sex determination (determination of sex before birth). This resulted in increasing female foeticides in our country.
• It also caused complications due to unsafe abortions in the hands of untrained persons.

In order to keep a check on the above areas, amniocentesis was banned.

Conclusion:

• Ban on amniocentesis was necessary to prevent female foeticides.
• However, the ban resulted in the prevention of the prenatal diagnosis of fatal disorders and abnormalities in fetuses.
• The result can be unwanted birth in certain cases.