The above link is a story in the news where a mother has asked doctors to preform a hysterectomy on her 15 year old daughter who has cerebral palsy. The doctors are seeking legal permission as the girl cannot give consent. Im the first to admit that I don`t know anything about this condition other than it is a life long condition.
The daughters mother is requesting the hysterectomy so that her daughter doesn`t have to go through periods and all thats comes with it.
From what I have read in the article the daughter cannot speak for herself or make her own decisions. Im guessing that the mother would have to assist her daughter in using the toilet so would therefor be the one who "deals" with the periods (in the hygine sense).
Im a little split on what I think about it all, I can see where the mother is coming from in that periods are not pleasent, for anyone so I would imagine it would be a whole lot worse if you couldn`t clean your self of say how you were feeling. But I also know that having a hysterectomy is a huge opperation with a lenghty recovery time.
Another part of me feels that the mother has cared for her child for 15 years and would only be doing what she thought was best for daughter. Im sure the mother hasn`t taken the decision lightly.
It doesn`t say in the article what type of cerebal palsy the daughter has but here is a link that tells you about the condition.
Anyway if you can understand my ramblings, what are your thoughts?.
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I saw these two on tv this morning and I have to say that I think the mother should be given the go ahead to get this done for her daughter. For being the important word here.
As you have said, the mother has looked after her for 15 years and im sure she knows what is best for her child.
She said this morning, periods or not, the care she gives her daughter would remain the same. Its just that she wants a better quality of life for her daughter.
Keeping her womb is going to make no difference to her as she will never be able to have children but getting rid of it will improve her quality of life as she wont have the indignity of being cleaned up or have the mood swings/pain that she has when she has them.
Im sure, there will be lots of different opinions on this subject, but as with all the opinions, they are only ours.
Louise xx
i saw it this morning too, personally i dont think i could comment on it as i have never been in the situation they are in, i do believe shes is wanting it done for her childs best interest tho, after all periods arnt very nice for the best of us imagine having someone fiddling with your pants every month while you grumpy and got cramp and not fully understanding whats going off or being able to moan at anyone about it.
I'm a bit unsure of this one.. does having cerebal palsey mean you cannot bear a child?
I personally think these operations should only be performed if the persons own personal health is at risk if they become pregnant for example. As to having periods isn't that just an inconvenience or is the mother worried she'l fall pregnant?
There's huge ethical debates on parents requesting operations like this one and also sterilisation for children with learning difficulties.
Where did my post go? :shock:
Bloody hell, this is a difficult one!
First, I don't think anyone should sit in judgement of the mother. She obviously has the interests of her daughter at heart. She's cleaned her and cared for her for 15 years so dealing with periods is unlikely to be a factor, I reckon.
I can also see her point about her daughter not growing up to be a 'normal' (sorry) adult. She won't. The trauma of dealing with the hysterectomy as opposed to dealing with periods is questionable. If she's unable to say how she feels, she's also unlikely to be embarrassed and any pain/discomfort can be dealt with. Many women do have trouble-free, regular periods. The operation is medically unnecessary.
Whatever happens, it will set a precedent. The notion that all/any disabled children be physically prevented from reproducing is an awful prospect. Many disabled people do have able children and live full, happy lives. Where does it stop if this is allowed? Do we neuter all blind/deaf children? If that were to happen, would we then go one step further and let children born disabled, die?
I think, overall, it shouldn't be approved. There are people who care for her. When her parents no longer can, other people will assume that responsibility.
I think cases like this all have to be judged on an individual basis. Its no use creating a blanket law saying anyone with....for exapmlpe cerebral palsy must be sterilised and their next of kin can make the decision, as CB has many different levels of severity.
What is evident that the mother loves her daughter, and is seeking to do the best for her, but also she is right in seeking to also make her life easier in caring for her daughter.
I apllaud anyone who can make such a hard decision, and there but for the grace of god go any of us.
tricky!
personal opinion,on the theme of the thread, and not the case in discussion, as I haven't as yet read the news item, and don't know either parent or child.
no, an invasive medical proceedure should not be carried out for the covenience of anotherif there is no medical reason for the proceedure in the prospective patient.
I have an interest in this area, and will read the article, I'll also be following the case, and it's legal implications.
debates like this can show the extremes of human emotional perception, moral standing, and down right foolishness... I love 'em.
but feel strongly for those involved. Never easy to *do the right thing*.
lp
hi all
we have a daughter with cerebal palsy and we have often wondered what we are going 2 do this is a very hard situation 2 be in has we want the best for our daughter like the mother in question our daughter would never know the facts of life and would not understand what is happening to her body,but in the same mind we are not sure if it is the right path 2 go down
janenjohn
I was just wondering if there is any other way of surpressing periods/puberty without having to undergo a hysterectomy?.
tricky case but personally i would go ahead with the hysterectomy i grew up with a girl who was severly autistic amongst other things she is 27 and cant talk only babble and has very little if any understanding of the world and her parents and doctors agreed when she was 14 to give her a hysterectomy the decision was not taken lightly by her parents but at the end of the day they had tried everything they could and for 2 weeks of every month she was extremely violent and jerky and would have to be sedated (which again was unfair she had a bad enough life without being sedated)after the hysterectomy she has never needed to be sedated so in that case it was the right thing to do
and every case is different what is right for one family wouldnt work for another
So in her case, Tan - could it be said that it was medically necessary?
it is in there. :lol2:
)
I can't imagine what I'd do, to be honest. 
