We’re totally pro-choice… but don’t choose abortion for *that* reason!

Sex-selective abortion is back in the news, this time in Australia and New Zealand, as a new gender test spurs abortion fears (via @BCharmagne).

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is worried about what the test might lead to.

“The concern we would have is that people would then terminate pregnancies on the grounds of sex selection,” said college president Dr Ted Weaver.

Apparently, sex selective abortions are not permitted, but abortions for the “health” of the mother (yes — with scare quotes…) effectively lead to abortion-on-demand (… that’s why!):

Although abortions were not permitted for sex selection, they were permitted on grounds of the mental health of the woman, and the Abortion Supervisory Committee had acknowledged that the way this was applied meant New Zealand, in effect, had abortion on demand.

That said, this test doesn’t seem as accurate as other tests that are already available. Still, I have a hard time figuring out why sex selective abortions are considered to be so wrong if abortion is just a “choice” and that fetus is just a “clump of cells.” If sex-selective abortions are so troubling, maybe it’s the abortion part we ought to be worried about… just a suggestion!