Sex-selective abortion a rising concern
While Canada has no abortion law, the country is trying to deal with sex-selective terminations.
According to Patrick Craine, a reporter with LifeSiteNews.com, that also leaves responsibility with doctors to determine what terms of abortion are acceptable. So to remedy the issue, Dr. Brandan Leir and Dr. Allison T. Thiele have called for new medical guidelines.
"Researchers are arguing that based on the fact that Canada has no law, the doctors themselves need to step in and follow guidelines that will restrict sex-selective abortion because it's very clear that the vast majority of Canadians oppose sex-selective abortion," Craine explains.
A study indicates that 92 percent of Canadians oppose the practice. But the journalist remarks that one difficulty in dealing with the problem is that a couple could determine a child's sex with a sonogram, and then go to a clinic to abort.
"At least the doctors wouldn't be complicit," the LifeSiteNews.com reporter comments. "Sure, we need to have laws against sex-selective abortion, but if the doctors were to take this stand, then they would be protected in their own conscience."
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada has a policy against sex-selective abortions, but Craine adds that Leir and Thiele were trying to point out that nothing is being done to stop the issue in doctors' practices.
One suggestion has been that doctors not check the sex of the unborn baby, because once known, physicians have an obligation to reveal the information to the parents.
Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow
Publish Date: April 24, 2010
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