BMJ 1994;308:558 (26 February)

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Women in India forced to have hysterectomies

G Nandan 

Women with learning disabilities in India can be forced to have hysterectomies, said Maharashta's state government last week. The ruling follows a nationwide controversy that erupted last month when gynaecologists carried out hysterectomies on 11 women with learning disabilities at a hospital in Pune in Maharashta.

The women, aged between 18 and 35, are residents of an institution run by the government. Health authorities claim that consent was given by the women's parents or other lawful guardians and that the operations were done to maintain the women's hygiene during menstruation and to prevent pregnancy.

Staff at the institution say that, of their 48 residents, only 11 of the women with the most severe learning disabilities were selected. Staff argued that the women's inability to keep themselves clean during menstruation increased their chances of infection and made their management difficult.

Gynaecologists who conducted the operations say that there is nothing . . . [Full text of this article]


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