Illicit abortion provider put in jail

A Henan province farmer has been sentenced to eight months in prison for running an unlicensed abortion clinic in Jiading district, where she illegally checked the sex of fetuses for their parents, the local court said Tuesday.

The defendant, surnamed Fang, 41, was charged with performing abortions without a license, according to a press release from Jiading District People's Court.

In March 2012, Fang opened a clinic in a rented room in Jiading district, according to the press release. At this clinic, she not only provided abortions, but also gave pregnant women ultrasounds for the specific purpose of identifying the sex of the unborn child.

In China, it is illegal for healthcare workers to disclose the sex of a fetus due to fears that the parents might decide to abort the pregnancy if it is a girl.

Police and health authorities discovered the clinic during an inspection on August 23, 2012.

Fang was arrested while in the middle of giving an ultrasound to a woman. The woman paid Fang 590 yuan ($97) for the examination, said Gao Yan, the court's press officer.

It was unknown how much money Fang had made running the clinic, Gao said.

Under Chinese law, one can be sentenced up to 10 years in prison for illegally conducting abortions. The sentence can be heavier if the abortion results in the death of a patient.

The court also fined Fang 2,000 yuan.