The article in the Sept. 6 issue of CMAJ about sex-selective abortion in China (and elsewhere) was read with interest.1 Western societies have long promoted abortion-on-demand and have insisted that the discussion of reproductive health be kept between doctor and patient. We screen for “defects” such as Down syndrome and spina bifida, and taxpayer funds cover the termination of unwanted pregnancies.
The abortion-on-demand philosophy has extended to the use of medications such as Plan B, which is available in pharmacies without a prescription. A woman in Canada can find out the gender of her unborn child and decide at less than 20 weeks to have an abortion. Western culture has gone to great lengths to make abortion-on-demand part of medical “rights” around the world.
This sounds like we are reaping what we have sown, and that this is not a Chinese problem, but a worldwide problem. This writer would encourage a reconsideration of the policy of abortion-on-demand.
Letters to the editor
In submitting a letter, you automatically consent to have it appear online and/or in print. All letters accepted for print will be edited by CMAJ for space and style. Most references and multiple authors' names, full affiliations and competing interests will appear online only. (The full version of any letter accepted for print will be posted at cmaj.ca.)