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Health officials have been asked to carry out an investigation "as a matter of urgency"
The Department of Health has launched an inquiry into claims that doctors agreed to carry out abortions on the grounds of the sex of unborn babies.
The Daily Telegraph said it had secretly filmed doctors at a number of British abortion clinics.
The doctors are said to have agreed to terminate foetuses when women did not want their baby because of its gender.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said sex selection was "illegal and morally wrong" and he had ordered an inquiry.
He said: "I'm extremely concerned to hear about these allegations. I've asked my officials to investigate this as a matter of urgency."
In its report, the Telegraph said doctors had admitted they were prepared to falsify paperwork so the illegal procedures could go ahead.
The newspaper said undercover reporters had accompanied pregnant women to nine clinics in different parts of the country.
In three cases, the Telegraph reported, doctors were recorded offering to arrange terminations after being told the women did not want to continue with the pregnancy because of the gender of the unborn child.
In England, Wales and Scotland abortions are allowed on certain grounds before 24 weeks of pregnancy including that:
- Continuing with the pregnancy would be a greater risk to the woman's life, physical or mental health than ending the pregnancy
- Continuing would be more of a risk to the physical or mental health of any of the woman's existing children
- There is a real risk the unborn child would have a serious physical or mental disability
Two doctors have to agree to the abortion, or one, in the case of an emergency.
Conditions are stricter for abortions carried out after 24 weeks. In Northern Ireland abortions are illegal usually, unless the mother's life is at risk.
23 Feb, 2012
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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/health-17136213
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