Editorial sparks debate over when Canadian parents should be told the sex of an unborn child

An editorial published in the journal of the Canadian Medical Association on 16 January entitled “‘It’s a girl!’—could be a death sentence” has sparked debate in Canada about when it is appropriate to reveal the sex of an unborn child to prospective parents.

In the editorial (CMAJ, doi:10.1503/cmaj.120021) the journal’s interim editor in chief, Rajendra Kale, suggests that disclosure of the sex of an unborn child should be withheld until late pregnancy to prevent selective abortion of female fetuses.

Dr Kale explains that he believes female feticide in Canada to …