Should Early Gender Id Be Available?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-45497454
I agree with Labour on this. In fact I don't know why anyone would not want to wait until the child is born to see what sex it is. I enjoyed the uncertainty with mine, we had boys and girls names ready etc, I stood ready with the decoration materials for the room etc.

[bednobs]

also mean tto add there is no 16 week scan on the NHS

[TheChair]

Not often that I get the opportunity to say that I agree 100% with TTT.

[Prudie]

Well I can see the concerns - you can get a private abortion without them knowing anything about what tests you've had and can come up with some perfectly valid, even if untruthful, reasons why you want a termination.

[woofgang]

I have to wonder how the lady in the article could opt for a surgical abortion at 5 months? Is this legal in the UK?

[Ellipsis]

> If the parents want to know the gender of the foetus and reliable methods are available to achieve this, then the option should be available.

But when?

* After birth - the old fashioned way
* After it's too late to abort
* Early enough to abort if you didn't want one of that sex

Of course, if the abortion law was applied to the letter, this would not be an issue.

> I have to wonder how the lady in the article could opt for a surgical abortion at 5 months? Is this legal in the UK?

Yes. Abortion is legal up to 24 weeks (even later in special circumstances) in most of the UK. NI is different.

[woofgang]

Ellipsis, but elective abortion for no reason other than choice?

[AuntLydia]

yes woofgang. Most abortions these days are 'elective' for no other reason than the baby is not wanted. You are allowed to abort your pregnancy up to 24 weeks gestation. It's disgusting but within the present law.

[Rockrose]

Its not disgusting its called choice.
You may find it disgusting but that does not give you the right to look down on someone who feels that is their only choice.

[AuntLydia]

I'm not 'looking down' on anyone. I'm making a point that i think its disgusting that a woman can elect to abort a child at 24 weeks gestation for no other reason that she doesn't want it. I'm disgusted with the Law, not the woman or her right to choose.

[bednobs]

but you really can't. I had a termination at 20 weeks last year, and there was a helluva lot of hoop jumping (just at the time i didnt want it)

[AuntLydia]

I didn't say it was easy, I said you could have it done legally.

[Rockrose]

I would imagine there are very few women that go through with a termination 'just because they don't want it'.
I still think disgusting is a strong word to used just because you disagree with someone's choice and action - for a legal act.
And I will add I will protest strongly if any government tries to take away that choice.

[bednobs]

you may be able to have it done "legally" but i wonder if you can actually get it done practically (ie find someone who will actually do it if there is no risk to the baby or mother)?

[kvalidir]

I think the issue is rather than it being a problem that gender is identified and told to parents, it's rather that there is still a prevalence in any culture to prefer males.That's the thing we should be tackling rather than worrying about whether gender is revealed to parents.
Also why is that test so cheap over here privately when they are astronomic in the States?

[bednobs]

i had it done and it was near on £500 not the money they quoted in the article

[AuntLydia]

Disgusting is a strong word and I am disgusted by a lot of Laws.

I don't know when you are actually going to understand that I am not disgusted with woman who choose to abort nor their right to choose to abort. Hopefully soon as this is getting boring and I have no intentions of having verbal fisticuffs with you.

[AuntLydia]

That was for "rockrose"

[Ellipsis]

> I would imagine there are very few women that go through with a termination 'just because they don't want it'.

The point of the OP, though, is that this is exactly what's going on when the foetus is the "wrong" sex.

[ToraToraTora]

bednobs "legal termination for trivial reasons is not available at all at any stage " - of course it is there are clinics all over doing it up to the legal limit. No reason is necessary.

[rowanwitch]

As the age at which premature babies survive changes abortion cut off dates will need to be reconsidered.
But that is a different issue, I find the idea of termination on grounds of gender abhorrent but I can understand the pressure placed on a woman carrying a girl in a culture that values male children. In this situation the likelihood is the testing and termination will mostly occur in the private sector rather than nhs