Taiwan warns it will punish doctors for sex-selective abortions

Summary of story from News Yahoo, May 17, 2011

Doctors found guilty of practising gender-selective abortions could have their licences revoked, Taiwanese health authorities have warned.

The warning came after Chiu Shu-ti, director-general of the Bureau of Health Promotion, said last week that up to 3,000 female babies were presumed “missing” from Taiwan’s population last year due to abortions.

“Such abortions have seriously violated medical ethics and human rights,” said another official from the bureau.

“Any doctors caught conducting the abortions may face a fine of up to Tw$500,000 (€2,200) or even their licences may be revoked.”

An initial investigation by the bureau last month found that 10 out of every 11 babies delivered in a clinic in New Taipei City last year were boys. Nine out of 10 babies born in another hospital during the same period were male.

Although gender-selective abortions are illegal in Taiwan, the practice is believed to be common on the island as well as in China and some other Asian countries.