In the fourth chapter of Unnatural Selection, I met two doctors, one who represented that lonely fish swimming against the school and the other, representing all those who feel powerless to "just keep swimming" along. One doctor, Puneet Bedi of Dehli, India, a Harvard education gynecologist, makes no bones about voicing his opinion on gender selection. "Everybody who does it knows it unethical. It's mass medical crime."
Bedi refuses to scan for sex or abort female babies. He just won't do it. So the wealthy families of that part of India come to him to deliver their sons. Around 70% of all Bedi's deliveries are of male children. That's a lot of blue.
Bedi's outspoken displeasure with gender selection practices in OB/GYN is juxtaposed by another gynecologist from South Korea, Cho Young-Youl who performs ultrasounds and abortions for the purpose of gender selection. What a monster, right? Actually, this guy is seriously intimidated by the demand for such services, and even tells Hvistendahl that he "considers himself powerless. He worries about the effects of late term abortion on his clients and dislikes the gender discrimination that is clearly happening right in front of his eyes. But yet he continues his practice, even despite concerns for the health of his patience. Powerlessness is a very powerful thing.
This "powerlessness" seems to be the norm among most doctors who are performing ultrasounds and subsequent abortions as part of gender selection practices in these countries and others. When the "system" seems so much bigger than you, it's easy to feel like there is nothing you can do to change it. Another interesting point that makes change difficult in situations like this was brought up by our doctor from Dehli, Bedi. He points to a lack of accountability and responsibility as part of the reason the problem has spun so wildly out of control." Parents tell themselves doctor knows best, while doctors point to the overwhelming patient demand for the procedure." This creates a really interesting dynamic where NONE of the parties involved are taking responsibility for what they are working together on. I am less likely to act of its someone else's "fault." Its much easier to turn a blind eye this way.
So now we're in a pickle. A major one. It seems like all the players in this story are uncomfortable with it, but the culture at large seems to demand it, no one wants to own it and it will soon have a MAJOR GLOBAL impact like we've never seen.
How can we turn these murky waters clear again? Maybe you're thinking, ' I'm just as powerless, what can I do from my computer desk? Let's start with education. Let's start with awareness. Think about it. When things are brought into the light, they are clearly seen and able to be repaired. Shine a light on the gender selection crisis: share this website with a friend, check out our LEARN SOMETHING page and talk about it. There is power in each and every voice and education and awareness is the first step in changing the mind and hearts of people and eliminating that feeling of powerlessness.
