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On the darker side, a dangerous social impact that this device would have is an increase female foeticide http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex-selective_abortion h

On the darker side, a dangerous social impact that this device would have is an increase female foeticide http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex-selective_abortion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex-selective_abortion Though there is a lot being done against this social evil, it is still very prevalent.

adventured 12y ago
A few questions. Why would a cheaper technology lead to an increase in abortions? Don't they just kill the fetus anyway upon realization of the sex if it's undesirable? Wouldn't it ultimately be safer for the mother, to perform a very early term abortion if that's what she wants, rather than waiting? If a mother wants to abort at 60 days pregnant (assuming the new tech enables earlier sex identification), why shouldn't she be allowed to for any reason she deems worthy?
- ig1 12y ago
  Because in countries where this is a problem it's common to have extreme restrictions on use of ultrasound machines. For example requiring two doctors to be present to use it and banning gender identification uses. If this device is cheap/small enough that illegal clinics could have it, it would make gender identification much more widely available then it is now. Selective abortion can be dangerous population-wise because even a small gender skew can be hugely problematic.
  - hayksaakian 12y ago
    On a micro level I sympathize with freedom of choice. On a macro level, population skew is certainly a problem. Tough call.
    - rglullis 12y ago
      Not to start a flamewar, but it really isn't a tough call at all. It's just that you got trapped in this debate-framing message that abortions are about freedom. You know another problem with legalized abortions? Women that sell them in exchange of suing for child support. [0] [0]: https://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2014/10/30/who-knows-about-divorce-laws-in-countries-other-than-the-u-s/ https://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2014/10/30/who-knows-abo...
- bugsbunnyak 12y ago
  Because she may not be the one actually making that "choice", and even if she is directly, it is made under massive cultural duress?
fit2rule 12y ago
I'm quite relieved to see someone is thinking of this use case and bringing it up in the discussion - a classic example of technology having both a positive angle and a negative one. I can't think of a way to solve this dilemma though .. seems like a slippery slope for us to be approaching.

adventured 12y ago

A few questions. Why would a cheaper technology lead to an increase in abortions? Don't they just kill the fetus anyway upon realization of the sex if it's undesirable? Wouldn't it ultimately be safer for the mother, to perform a very early term abortion if that's what she wants, rather than waiting? If a mother wants to abort at 60 days pregnant (assuming the new tech enables earlier sex identification), why shouldn't she be allowed to for any reason she deems worthy?

ig1 12y ago
Because in countries where this is a problem it's common to have extreme restrictions on use of ultrasound machines. For example requiring two doctors to be present to use it and banning gender identification uses. If this device is cheap/small enough that illegal clinics could have it, it would make gender identification much more widely available then it is now. Selective abortion can be dangerous population-wise because even a small gender skew can be hugely problematic.
- hayksaakian 12y ago
  On a micro level I sympathize with freedom of choice. On a macro level, population skew is certainly a problem. Tough call.
  - rglullis 12y ago
    Not to start a flamewar, but it really isn't a tough call at all. It's just that you got trapped in this debate-framing message that abortions are about freedom. You know another problem with legalized abortions? Women that sell them in exchange of suing for child support. [0] [0]: https://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2014/10/30/who-knows-about-divorce-laws-in-countries-other-than-the-u-s/ https://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2014/10/30/who-knows-abo...
bugsbunnyak 12y ago
Because she may not be the one actually making that "choice", and even if she is directly, it is made under massive cultural duress?

fit2rule 12y ago

I'm quite relieved to see someone is thinking of this use case and bringing it up in the discussion - a classic example of technology having both a positive angle and a negative one. I can't think of a way to solve this dilemma though .. seems like a slippery slope for us to be approaching.