Telangana police have arrested 18 individuals, including four doctors and the owner of a private hospital, for conducting pre-natal sex determination tests and illegal abortions. The gang was busted in a joint operation conducted by the Warangal police along with the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) and the health department. The police seized sex determination scanning machines, Rs 73,000 in cash, and 18 cellphones from the accused. The gang was aborting female fetuses illegally at various locations in the district with the collusion of some hospitals. The arrested persons have been identified, and they have been charged under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PCPNDT) of 1994, and other relevant Acts.
The owner of the private hospital, who was among those arrested for conducting illegal abortions, shows the unethical practices employed in some healthcare facilities. The need to have checks and balances in these places to prevent the misuse of medical resources, like sex determination scanning machines, is critical.
The prime accused, Vemula Praveen and his wife Sandhyarani, who were running a secret scanning centre at Narsampet town, show how people could undermine the trust placed in them by society. Being in the healthcare industry means catering to the needs of patients, from providing the right diagnosis to administering the correct medication. It is a highly trusted profession that requires integrity and dedicated service. Those breaking the trust of the profession should be made an example of, so that other healthcare practitioners stay true to their calling.