Recently, these tests have come under increased scrutiny based on the possibility that consumers both in the US and abroad may purchase the tests as a means obtaining information about fetal sex as the first step in seeking a sex selection abortion. Unlike an ultrasound (performed at 18-20 weeks in the second trimester), these DTC tests advertise the ability to predict fetal sex between 5-10 weeks in the first trimester. This offers parents an opportunity to determine fetal sex and make corresponding planning decisions to produce a child of a specific sex that may have been previously unaffordable (through means such as preimplantation genetic diagnosis or sperm selection) or inaccessible (second trimester sex selection abortions).
Three main countries- China, India, and Korea- are often used as examples of countries with socio-cultural environments that contribute to male child bias in attitude and action. Literature contains extensive discussion on how and why socio-cultural attitudes have traditionally, and still to a large extent, continue to favor male children and perpetuate extensive gender discrimination within the respective countries. The magnitude of bias is reflected in the skewed population ratios such as the 50 million “missing” females that should otherwise exist in the Chinese population. These deeply entrenched reasons for male bias and the pervasiveness of these attitudes means that even despite legal steps to explicitly limit or prohibit sex selection abortions, for decades both parents and practitioners have ignored laws designed to prevent this practice in each respective country.
In recognition of this issue, some DTC fetal sex prediction companies specify that they do not sell the product to consumers in China and or India. However, some companies have not issued such restrictions, and consumers in India or China can locate these products by a simple internet search. In India, scholar and activist Dr. Sabu George filed a lawsuit against Google and Yahoo seeking to enforce an Indian law against advertising products that reveal fetal sex. While the search engines have pulled some advertisements, internet searches still provide links to the DTC fetal sex prediction company websites.
The potential of using fetal sex prediction tests as a means of sex selection is not only a problematic issue limited to other countries. Both attitudinal research and recent litigation suggests that some parents in the US may use these tests for sex selection purposes.
Despite a notion that the general US population does not possess a preference for a child of a specific sex, statistics suggest this assumption may not be correct. Numerous studies demonstrate that members of the US population do possess attitudinal bias favoring male children, either as only children or first born. Some parents not only hold this male child bias, but are also willing to translate these attitudes into practice to achieve the desired outcome.
Another lawsuit against the Baby Gender Mentor product, Duffy et al. v. Acu-Gen Biolabs et al., also confirms these attitudes exist within the US population. Plaintiffs allege the tests were inaccurate and falsely predicted their baby’s sex, which caused them emotional distress and had a “devastating effect.” One plaintiff asserts that the incorrect test results contributed to the demise of her marriage because her husband wanted a boy, while another plaintiff upon learning the results “struggled, needlessly, with whether to keep [the pregnancy.]”
Granted, vast socio-cultural differences exist between counties such as India, China, and the US that could lead to less devastating population wide outcomes. However, does this mean we should be less concerned that only a small percentage of the population may use these tests for sex selection purposes? What can we learn from these countries when formulating our policy relating to how these tests can or cannot be used?
--Katherine Drabiak-Syed
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