The National Steering Committee of Radiologists has demanded that the Central government make amendments to the proposed regulations governing the ultrasound clinics.
According to Dr. Sudhir Gupta, a member of Indian Radiological and Imaging Association, “Blaming radiologists for growing gender disparities will not solve the problem. Imposing stringent regulations to control ultrasound clinics is not welcome. It creates fear and becomes difficult for the operators as the new regulations have strict penal provisions, which can lead to jail terms even for clerical mistakes.”
A senior radiologist explained that the job of the radiologists is to scan but not to take up the surgical removal of the foetus. That is done by the gynecologists or the parents who sign a consent letter before abortion. “The new regulations are stringent and have penal provisions to book the ultrasound scan operators. It is not fare to blame the ultrasound scan operators for growing number of abortions in the society,” opined the radiologist.
According to a doctor at Ghandi hospital in Hyderabad, radiologists have to ensure that they do not reveal the sex of the foetus to the parents or the attendants when the woman comes for scanning, and that has to be followed in proper spirit.
With ultrasound being cost-effective, lifesaving and also efficient point-of-care it is also used in laparoscopic surgeries and other scanning which is not in the purview of PCPNDT Act.
“In cases other than scanning of the foetus the provisions of sex determining ration are not applicable and the radiologists must not be held responsible. We want the government to understand these fine points as making it difficult for the radiologists to practice will not solve the problem,” says Dr. Suresh, a radiologist from Hyderabad.