Bookmarkers beware: Bookmarks to pages other than the home page may not work after we change our server in April Editor's Choice | This Week in BMJ | Press releases BMJ No 7129 Volume 316 Education and debate Saturday 7 February 1998 Ethical dilemma Should doctors reconstruct the vaginal introitus of adolescent girls to mimic the virginal state? In some ethnic communities women must be virgins when they marry. These cultural traditions can raise difficult issues for doctors when they are faced with requests by young women from immigrant families to reconstruct their hymens. In this ethical debate Dutch doctors who carry out the procedure, a British gynaecologist, a senior lecturer in child health, two ethicists, and a psychiatrist give their views. Who wants the procedure and why A Logmans, A Verhoeff, R Bol Raap, F Creighton, M van Lent Commentary: The ethical issue is deceit D D Raphael Commentary: Promiscuity is acceptable only for men Dinesh Bhugra Commentary: Education about the hymen is needed Sara Paterson-Brown Commentary: Cultural complexities should not be ignored Elspeth Webb Commentary: Surgery is not what it seems Lainie Friedman Ross Ethical dilemma comments Home | Current issue | Past issues | Classified ads | Career Focus | Feedback Collections | About this site | About the BMJ | BMA | Medline