In such social circumstances, can a case be made for prohibiting the disclosure of fetal sex for non-medical reasons? The answer to this question depends on how the ethical principle of respect for autonomy should be understood. The autonomy-based right of pregnant women to learn fetal sex is not an absolute right. In ethical theory, the ethical principle of respect for autonomy is known as a prima facie ethical principle5. Respect for autonomy creates obligations to pregnant women that can sometimes be overridden by other obligations.
It is a standard feature of all ethical theories that the exercise of one’s autonomy can justifiably be restricted to prevent serious social harm. The social harm of large sex ratios of men to women is potentially