Sex testing - Abortion upsurge fears unfounded

FEARS of an upsurge in abortions following the internet sale of kits used to test the sex of babies are unfounded.

Parents will be relieved by this prognosis by Professor Fergal Malone of the Royal College of Surgeons.

While the Pro Life Campaign warns the test can be misused and could undermine human dignity, Professor Malone does not believe the availability of the test would lead to babies being aborted simply because they were not the required sex.

In his view, the test, already available in America, would have a curiosity value.

Nonetheless, parents should heed his warning to be wary about using such a test between six and nine weeks after conception because of the lack of data at that stage.

It is far more important to focus on the health and care of the mother and her developing baby, rather than on a question of gender.