Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic
E t i c a t i on
Order No 40/46
Determination of fetal sex before the end of 12 weeks of pregnancy and its commercial use
(date of adoption: 04.02.2013)
At its regular meeting on 27.11.2012 the Ethics Committee of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter referred to as "EtK MZ SR') discussed in the presence of the main expert of MZ SR for medical genetics, MUDr. František Cisárik, CSc., Chairman of the Slovak Society of Medical Genetics SLS (hereinafter referred to as "SSLG') as well as a member of EtK MZ SR, Prof. RNDr. Ľudevít Kádši, DrSc and the appointed representative of the Slovak Gyneecological-Podborn company SLS (hereinafter referred to as "SGPS') SSLG, which: He protested commercial sex testing of the fetus before the end of 12 weeks of pregnancy..
EtK MZ SR decided on the following opinion:
- EtK MZ SR considers Use of information and technical options for targeted gender change in the population (both in vitro and in utero gametes and/or embryos) in accordance with Additional Protocol to the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine concerning Genetic Tests for Medical Purposes, Council of Europe, 2008 http://wayback.archive-it.org/2172/20101103195020/http://www.radaeuropy.sk/?Appendix-protocol-to-Convention-of-human-rights-and-biomedicine-to-tykaj-to-genetically-tests-for-lekarska-ucely-2008-c-203-englicka-version and in line with the recommendations of the International Federation of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (FIGO) 2005, Sex selection for non-medical purposes 2005: in ETHICAL ISSUES IN OBSTECTICS AND GYNECOLOGY by the FIGO Committee for the Study of Ethical Aspects of Human Reproduction and Women www.FIGO.org, http://www.figo.org/files/figo-corp/Ethical2020Issues%2-2020English.pdf, morally unacceptable and despicable. The use of sex selection to prevent gender-related genetic diseases is ethically justified only for medical reasons.
- EtK MZ SR is aware that The desire to know the sex of a child before birth is common aIn the vast majority of cases, knowledge of the sex of the expected child has a positive impact to the fetus, pregnant woman and her partner, family and social relationships. Nevertheless, by determining the sex of the foetus before the end of the 12th week of pregnancy, a pregnant woman comes to the information on the basis of which she could decide in her individual case whether to choose the offspring of the desired sex or to terminate the pregnancy. The EtK considers the choice of the foetus to be morally questionable on the basis of the desired sex only and recommends that technical conditions are not created for such a practice, i.e. that self-examination test kits are not offered and that, except in medically indicated cases, laboratory investigations prior to the end of 12 weeks of pregnancy.
- In the case of laboratory examinations EtK MZ SR does not consider it useful to propose restrictive legislative measures; and considers that a personal responsibility for ethical decision making to the best of the knowledge and conscience of all laboratory/professional staff is sufficient to prevent non-ethical sex choices by a pregnant woman.. EtK MZ SR invites SGLG and SGPS as well as relevant major and regional experts of MZ SR to actively promote, support and appeal to the recommended personal responsibility.
Professional companies must ensure that these techniques are used only from medical indications so that they do not contribute to social discrimination based on sex. Regardless of the attitude towards non-medical sex selection, all healthcare professionals and their societies have a duty to defend and promote gender and gender equality strategies.
Chairman: MUDr. P. Križan, CSc.; Secretary: Mgr. P.Valúch tel. (02)59 373 362, e-mail: peter.valuch@health.gov.sk Ministry of Health, Limbová 2, 837 52 Bratislava, Slovak Republic