Aggregated News
Medical staff should be instructed to "withhold information about the sex of the foetus" according to a draft resolution passed by a Council of Europe committee.
The plan is an attempt to prevent parents "selectively aborting" foetuses – usually female – as means of 'choosing' the sex of their child.
The practice has reached worrying proportions in some former Soviet states that are members of the Council.
However, the recommendation covers all 47 member states, meaning all NHS midwives and doctors could be blocked from telling expectant parents whether they will have a boy or a girl.
Parenting groups last night expressed anger about the proposed change, while doctors said the proposals were unworkable.
Justine Roberts, founder of parenting site Mumsnet said expectant couples would feel "pretty angry and disappointed" if a blanket ban on gender identification is introduced.
Mrs Roberts said expectant parents asked to know the sex of their child on practical grounds, such as working out whether siblings could share a room, or simply because they wanted an idea of what lay ahead.
She said: "I can...
The plan is an attempt to prevent parents "selectively aborting" foetuses – usually female – as means of 'choosing' the sex of their child.
The practice has reached worrying proportions in some former Soviet states that are members of the Council.
However, the recommendation covers all 47 member states, meaning all NHS midwives and doctors could be blocked from telling expectant parents whether they will have a boy or a girl.
Parenting groups last night expressed anger about the proposed change, while doctors said the proposals were unworkable.
Justine Roberts, founder of parenting site Mumsnet said expectant couples would feel "pretty angry and disappointed" if a blanket ban on gender identification is introduced.
Mrs Roberts said expectant parents asked to know the sex of their child on practical grounds, such as working out whether siblings could share a room, or simply because they wanted an idea of what lay ahead.
She said: "I can...