Section 4 in The Punjab Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Control and Regulation) Act, 1994
4. Regulation of pre-natal diagnostic procedures and pre-natal diagnostic techniques.
(1)No person shall use or cause to be used any pre-natal diagnostic procedures or pre-natal diagnostic techniques except for the purpose and subject to the conditions specified in sub-sections (2) and (3).(2)The pre-natal diagnostic procedures or pre-natal diagnostic techniques shall be carried out solely for the purpose of detection of any one or more of the following abnormalities and diseases, namely :-(i)the chromosomal abnormalities;(ii)the genetic metabolic disease;(iii)the haemoglobinopathies;(iv)the sex-linked genetic disease;(v)the congenital abnormalities; and(vi)any other abnormalities or diseases as may be declared by the Authority for the purposes of this section.(3)The pre-natal diagnostic procedures or pre-natal diagnostic techniques shall not be used or carried out unless the person qualified to do so is satisfied that one or more of the following conditions are fulfilled in each case, namely :-(i)the age of the pregnant woman is above thirty-five years;(ii)the pregnant woman has had history of two or more abortions or foetal loss;(iii)the pregnant woman has the previous history of exposure of potentially teratogenic drugs, radiation, infection or hazardous chemicals;(iv)there is a family history of mental retardation or physical deformities such as spastic or deafmute child or any other genetic disease; and(v)any other condition as may be specified by the Authority.(4)Before carrying out the pre-natal diagnostic procedures or the pre-natal diagnostic techniques, the person qualified to do so shall obtain a written consent of the pregnant woman in the prescribed form after clearly explaining to her all possible side-effects and after-effects of such procedures or techniques.
