Statutory Compliance
PCPNDT Act - Pre-natal Diagnostics
Prohibition of sex selection, regulation of pre-natal diagnostic techniques, and record-keeping duties of registered facilities and personnel.
- track
- Statutory Compliance
- format
- Self-paced
What this module covers
Prohibition of sex selection, regulation of pre-natal diagnostic techniques, and record-keeping duties of registered facilities and personnel.
This is a self-paced training module that maps to Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994. It is delivered inside the MedNext app so clinicians and hospital staff can work through it between shifts, with no live sessions or fixed deadlines.
What it covers in detail
PCPNDT Act - Pre-natal Diagnostics
- The core prohibition: no person or facility may conduct pre-natal diagnostic techniques for the purpose of determining the sex of the foetus, and no one may communicate the sex of the foetus by words, signs or any manner.
- Mandatory registration of genetic clinics, ultrasound clinics and imaging centres, and the display of the mandatory notice that sex determination is prohibited.
- The Form F duty: complete records for every pregnant woman undergoing an ultrasound, including the indication, and retention of these records.
- Permitted indications for pre-natal diagnosis (for example age, family history of genetic disorder or repeated abortions) and the conditions under which techniques may lawfully be used.
- Offences, penalties and the suspension or cancellation of registration, and the doctor's personal liability.
Who should complete this, and why
Radiologists, sonologists, obstetricians, gynaecologists and the owners of any ultrasound or imaging facility are directly bound by the Act, as is any clinic that could be used to determine foetal sex. Because both the facility and the individual practitioner can face penalties and loss of registration, accurate record-keeping and strict compliance are professional survival issues, not paperwork.
What you will be able to do after this module
On completion you should be able to
- State what the Act prohibits and the fact that communicating foetal sex in any form is an offence.
- Complete the Form F record correctly for every scan on a pregnant woman.
- Explain the registration and mandatory-notice requirements for an ultrasound facility.
- Identify lawful indications for pre-natal diagnostic procedures.
Frequently asked questions
Is it ever legal to tell parents the sex of the foetus?
No. Under the PCPNDT Act it is an offence to communicate the sex of the foetus to the pregnant woman, her relatives or any other person, by words, signs or in any other manner.
What is Form F and why does it matter?
Form F is the mandatory record maintained for every pregnancy scan under the Act, capturing the woman's details and the indication for the procedure. Incomplete or missing Form F records are one of the most common grounds for prosecution and suspension of a facility's registration.
Does the Act ban ultrasound in pregnancy?
No. Diagnostic ultrasound for legitimate medical indications is permitted and important in antenatal care. The Act bans the use of any technique to determine or reveal the sex of the foetus, and requires strict record-keeping to prevent misuse.
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