Forum Topic

Have you the right to find out the gender of baby if you want

I always thought it was a parent's right these days to be told, should they wish, what the sex of the developing baby is when the pregnancy scans are done.I myself would not ever want that as the uncertainty is an element of the miracle of childbirthbut a pregnant mother the other day told me her hospital refused on policy grounds - because they have many Indian heritage patients and think some of them are selective about boys and girls.What happens here in email, if any of you have been pregnant recently

Colin Izzard ● 5695d7 Comments

It's only 50/50 so it's not like the gender is a really big surprise?! If there were 6 different types of gender/humans then I could understand not wanting to know as it would be more exciting. For practical reasons I would definitely want to know the gender, but we only have 'the right' due to advances in medical science. If babies are being aborted with this knowledge then unfortunately it does effect our rights because the unborn child has to be put first.We might have the right to know, but I'm not sure what we have the right to do with that knowledge.

Faith Wardle ● 5690d

Sorry to be a pedant but it's not the gender that is in question but the sex. Gender refers to cultural/social differences, not biological.

Darren Halford ● 5690d

Sorry to be a pedant but it's not the gender that is in question but the sex. Gender refers to cultural/social differences, not biological.

Darren Halford ● 5690d

We were asked, during the 20 week scan at Ealing hospital if we wanted to know the gender. I think each hospital sets it's own policy on this, as opposed to a consistent approach throughout an area.

Dave Green ● 5693d

I think Colin has already said that Marie.

J Smith ● 5693d

Any refusal would only be on the grounds of one of the many imported cultural issues,ie.Asians prefer male babies....so the medical profession would not wish to jeopardise the welfare of female babies......

Marie Anne OConnell ● 5693d

When I had my daughter in 1999, at Central Middlesex Hospital, I did, for a mad moment, want to know the sex of my baby at one of my scans. It was spur of the moment and, thankfully, they refused to tell me for the  same reason you have stated - some cultures preferring one sex over another.

Samantha Tubbritt ● 5694d