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Sterilisations at delivery or after childbirth: addressing continuing abuses in the consent process.

Wale, J. and Rowlands, S., 2019. Sterilisations at delivery or after childbirth: addressing continuing abuses in the consent process. Global Public Health, 14 (8), 1153-1166.

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DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2019.1583265

Abstract

Non-consensual sterilisation is not only a historic abuse. Cases of unethical treatment of women around the time of a pregnancy continue in the Twenty-First Century in five continents. Sterilisation is being carried out by some healthcare professionals at the time of delivery, or soon afterwards, without valid consent. A range of contemporary examples of such practices is given. Respecting women's autonomy should be the touchstone of the consent process. Avoidance of force, duress, deception and manipulation should go without saying. Ethnic minority communities and women living with HIV, in particular, are being targeted for this kind of abuse. Attempts have been made in various countries and by international professional organisations to introduce clinical guidelines to steer health professionals away from this malpractice. Survivors have sought justice in domestic and international courts. This paper critically assesses the evidence on the practical, ethical and legal issues around the handling of consent for these procedures. Suggestions are made about possible regulatory responses that address abuse, whilst maintaining access for those individuals who freely elect to undergo these procedures.

Item Type:Article
ISSN:1744-1692
Uncontrolled Keywords:Consent; Delivery; Ethics; human rights; Sterilisation
Group:Faculty of Media & Communication
ID Code:31806
Deposited By: Symplectic RT2
Deposited On:13 Feb 2019 11:14
Last Modified:14 Mar 2022 14:14

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