City laboratory denies transvaginal ultrasound to unmarried woman

The young woman, who had been profusely bleeding for three weeks, was advised by her gynaecologist to undergo the scan. “Technicians at the scan centre refused to do the tests when I went there on Monday evening in spite of carrying a valid prescription. They insisted that I should be married to undergo the test.” 

In a video recording of the entire incident which DT Next has access to, the technician at the laboratory is seen refusing to undertake the necessary tests. “I had made it clear that I have no problem to undergo the test. But they said that the lab does not perform the scan on an unmarried woman,” said the woman. 

Even though the prescription was written on the letterhead of a clinic, which indicated that the doctor had prescribed the test, the doctor at the lab refused to perform the test. “When the staff at the centre learnt that I was recording the entire conversation, they told me to shut up and leave,” she added. Claiming that they refrain from performing the scan on unmarried women, a staff at the centre said that it is a protocol that all its branches follow. 

Stating that there is no rule which mandates a woman be married to undergo the scan, Dr Jaishree Gajaraj, a gynaecologist, said, “Before prescribing TVS, we confirm that the patient is sexually active. A scan centre cannot refuse the service. The labs should make sure the prescription is valid and ensure the consent of the patient. Beyond that, the lab should not deny the facility if the woman is unmarried.”