Enforced hysterectomies

BMJ 1994;308:1163 (30 April)

Letters

Enforced hysterectomies

EDITOR,--Guru Nandan's report of 11 women in India who wereforced to have a hysterectomy highlights the appalling ethicalstandards of some Third World countries.¹ It is encouragingthat some Indian doctors have protested against the decisionto carry out these operations.

Over the past year I have received letters from 11 women whohave been subjected to a hysterectomy against their will inBritish hospitals. They have written to me after learning thatI underwent a similar experience. I am a medical writer andeditor and therefore better placed than most women when it comesto standing up for myself. Two friends, one a consultant physicianand the other a consultant gynaecologist, separately advisedme to complain to the police. The Crown Prosecution Servicedecided, however, that there was insufficient evidence to justifycharges of assault. Since then at least three other women havecomplained to the police. In . . . [Full text of this article]