What’s missing in T.N. for intersex babies? Genetic tests at government hospitals
Activists and doctors in Tamil Nadu are calling for improved genetic testing infrastructure in government hospitals to better support intersex infants. While the state has banned unnecessary sex-reassignment surgeries, the lack of diagnostic tools like karyotyping remains a significant barrier.
Why it matters
It highlights a critical gap in medical infrastructure that prevents informed healthcare decisions for intersex children.
Nearly seven years ago, the Tamil Nadu government, in a historic move, banned sex-reassignment surgeries on intersex infants and children , with the aim of protecting their bodily autonomy. Doctors and activists, however, say the State, like the rest of the country, has a long way to go in improving its genetic infrastructure, which they argue would help with the diagnosis and understanding of variations in sex development in intersex children.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in