From January 1, Guiyang City, the capital of southwestern Guizhou
Province, will impose China's first ban on the abortion of
fetuses more than 14 weeks old.
The move aims to control consistently lopsided male-female
ratios amongst newborns, according to a top Guiyang official.
Medical facilities or doctors violating the ban will face fines
of up to 30,000 yuan (US$3,600) or have their medical licenses
suspended, according to the new regulations.
Pharmaceutical firms will also be banned from selling abortion
medications to hospitals or doctors not licensed to conduct
them.
The gender of a fetus can usually be judged using modern medical
devices about 14 weeks into pregnancy, since the fetus?begins
to grow external sexual organs at around 12 weeks.
Abortion for women more than 14 weeks into pregnancy will be
allowed if the fetus is proved to have a genetic disfigurement or
disease, or if the life or health of the mother is endangered. In
these cases, the mother may apply to the county-level family
planning administration for special permission.
Authorities will confiscate illegal income from hospitals or
doctors?who have illegally conducted fetus gender assessment
or abortion. Fines will also be imposed, depending on the sum of
the illegal income.
Violators will be fined a sum three to six times illegal income
over 5,000 yuan (US$604). For illegal income of less than 5,000
yuan, violators will be fined between 5,000-30,000 yuan, according
to the regulation.
Currently, the Ministry of Health guidelines recommend against
terminations beyond 24 weeks but there are no set time limits in
law.
(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2004)