http://www.whas11.com/news/health/Wash-doctor--148151165.html Controversial procedure allows parents to choose baby's sex
Baby by ABC News WHAS11.com Posted on April 19, 2012 at 4:00 PM
Updated Thursday, Apr 19 at 9:54 PM (ABC News) -- In some places it's considered illegal, in others insist it's downright "immoral," but one Seattle, Wash. Doctor says he can deliver the baby of your dreams.
The medical term is "preimplantation genetic diagnosis," advertised as "gender selection" or "family balancing" on the website for the Washington Center for Reproductive Medicine in Bellevue. Dr. James Kustin says parents can "virtually guarantee successful gender selection" for their baby, when it is just an embryo.
The procedure may be illegal across the border but here in the U.S. it's not - as long as it's done correctly, according to the state department of health.
“Genetic pregnancy screening on its face and on its own is legal. Where it could be problematic and might be a potential violation is if that information is specifically provided in order to lead to some sort of action to terminate a pregnancy,” Donn Mover with the health department said.
Dr. James Kustin, the man at the center of the procedure, denies any wrongdoing. He wouldn't speak to ABC News on camera, but said the procedure is private and lawful.
For parents, the procedure raises an ethical debate about what's right and what's wrong.
“It's in your destiny, what you should have. It's OK whatever it is. It's OK if it's girl or boy. Kids are kids,” mother Avesha Ased said.
The state department of health says Kustin has had five complaints against him since he was licensed in Washington. State investigators were not able to substantiate any of the complaints and they said the doctor has never been disciplined.
