Disabled girl to have hysterectomy. Is it right or wrong?

She has cerebral palsy. She is not mentally retarded. I can somewhat see her mothers point, but it is not her decision to make. I do not agree with the mother at all. She would be depriving the girl of a natural part of life. Also, having a hysterectomy at such a young age is not good for her body. I have a friend who had a hysterectomy for medical reasons at the age of 21. She is now 40 and looks to be about 50. I have been told that the body ages faster after a hysterectomy. My brother is married to a woman who has cerebral palsy. She underwent several surgeries and a child to her legs, and is still walking quite poorly. She cannot drive and has a hard time taking stairs. She uses a cane to walk most of the time. They have a beautiful 4 year old girl. Her pregnancy was rough o her and she had to have a c-section, but she feels that the discomforts of pregnancy are well worth the end result.

Good morning rosie, I believe that this is a difficult question to answer, because it depends on the severity of the disability, and I guess this is where the problem arises. Where do you draw the line? I expect those opposed to it are afraid of a presentient being set. I have no doubt but that the mother is seeking only what is best for her child, as she perceives it. I look forward to other comments on this post, not "because it's right" , or "because it's wrong", but carefully thought out responses. Blessings.

This is a very tough essue to have to deal with. the articale does not say if the girl is mentally challanged. If she isn't then she should be the one making the decision. I really don't think that thee is a right or wrong in case like this. There is too much information left out. Is she totally helpless? Then of course the mother is the one that should know her daughter best along with her needs.

Well I guess if it is a really bad Disability as it sounds like it is then yes I would agree with her as the Girl will not cope at all and also these People need to think about what could happen to her in Child Birth as it sounds she would not be able to cope with it Why do they not think straight these People I say they have far to much to say As far as I am concerned you can only relate to it if you are in that Situation , I am lucky that I am not but me as a Mother if I was yes I would do the same

I think this is a really difficult subject to decide the rights or wrongs of. I actually saw the mother in question giving an interview and I gained much more perspective towards her and her situation. She sees this as very much a personal decision for HER daughter. She acknowledged that there were other avenues that would prevent Katie from having a period such as the pill or contraceptive injection but due to her condition they would drastically increase her chances of thrombosis which is potentially life threatening. Hysterectomy was obviously not an option taken lightly as she acknowledged the ramifications of such drastic surgery. She felt she would be acting in the best interests of her daughter and really who are we to judge her on that? Surely the presiding factor in making the "right" decision is what is in the best interests of Katie. Puberty and menstruation are horrendous enough for any teenager to deal with never mind one with Katie's disability. I don't know a great deal about her condition but I do know that the majority of mother's endeavour to do their best to prevent their children suffering. And that is how I have viewed this debate. If it was my child I feel I would probably do exactly as Katie's mother has done, as surely the quality of life is paramount.

I am a disability worker and we had lots and lots of femail clients that had hysterectomy by the choice of the parents. The issue was not so much geting pregnnt as the only way they would become pregnant was by rape.as most were severily disabled it was mostly to do with the period and pain and dignity to a point. I once spoke to the mother of one of the girls and she said something in the line of I could not wathc my daughter having this pain every month (and yes she was in pain screaming and in agony) and why go throu that when she cant even have kids. Its not an easy decision.

I think if this girl of 15 years has any oppinion at all, then she needs to consulted because it is her body and the mother does nto have any prerogative to decide for her even if she believes she cant possibly cope with motherhood. If she can have her menstral cycle, then it actually means she can have children-doesnt this mother see that this girl has a potential of having children who could look after her better? It really doesnt matter whether she gets a baby by artificial means but I know she can have a baby and the baby may not necessarily be incapacitated! So let the girl decide or just let this girl be natural

Let me say, as a mother of a son, 13, with Cerebral Palsy, that I can see why the parents would do this. Our children have to go through enough without adding more to the table. Our kids go through more things and procedures than anyone can ever realize. It is easy for someone to sit and judge our decisions. The truth is, we do too. We wonder if what we are doing is right for our kids, we face others judging us, putting what we are doing in the media. We have enough trouble justifying things to ourselves. No one can tell us what is right or wrong, if doing it will improve or set them back. I cannot judge the decision that the mother is making, I am not quite in her shoes. I wish them all the best, and I will stand behind the hard decisions that she has to make. Our kids are at the top of the list to be abused. Most people will not listen if they do tell, or if they can even tell. I am sure that she wishes she did not have to make these type of decisions, but she don't want to see her daughter in pain and not understanding what is going on. How would you explain to a 15 year old, with the mentality of a 5 or 6 year old, what is happening. Even better, what a pad or tampon is for and how to properly take care of things. It is a hard decision, but if my son was a girl, I would probably do the same thing.

I think it is the right thing to do. The disables girl would not know how to handle many of lifes challenges and for some people a monthly cycle is hard enough to deal with. Pregnancy would be a hard road too, I dont think she would understand how to take care of her self durring the pregnancy or deal with the pains of labor well. It is a hard decision to make.

First of all, I read the article and the girl in question has cerebral palsy, she isn't mentally retarded. I happen to have known a young man all his life who has cerebral palsy and although his physical disabilities are many he is as sharp as anyone I know mentally and emotionally! I've always felt very bad for him that he's never had a romantic relationship although he has all the normal urges and attractions to women. He's just never been confident or secure enough to approach a girl and ask her out. This young girl will have many challenges in her life but she may very well someday get married and perhaps even want children. At any rate to take such a drastic step as major, MAJOR surgery on a 15 year old girl seems very extreme. I'm sure the mother wants to do what's best for her daughter but I personally disagree with this choice. Annie

I think there have actually been a number of similar cases here in the US. My understanding, although it happens- is that it is illegal. My first concern would be why a hysterectomy? It's an invasive surgery that can carry tremendous health risks for the rest of the young woman's life. Even if she agrees, and has no intention or interest in becoming a parent reproductive organs are more than just for reproduction. Now if in some way her medical condition would be lessened by a hysterectomy, that would perhaps alter my opinion. If her handicap is so severe as to dictate that she should absolutely never have children, then chances are it would also dictate that she's never going to be able to be unattended. Hire female care-givers, and eliminate the risk of a male harming her & causing a pregnancy. If that's not the case, and she is capable of choosing to be in an adult relationship then she should also be afforded the choice in deciding if she wishes to have children & what birth control method to use if she does not.

I can certainly understand the mother's reasoning. Heck I wanted a hysterectomy myself. I figure I never wanted to get married or have children I hate dealing with my period I don't need a uterus either. If she is so disabled that she cannot be taught to properly care for her own menstrual needs that's just one less things to worry about. I thought about having her take the pill continually or some kind of shot or other ways to stop her period without surgery but that would be a long term cost as well. I can't say if I was her mother that I wouldn't go that route either. For everyone in the article saying it's unacceptable, they're not the ones who have to take care of her.

I have to say I agree with the mother too because being mentally challenged is hard enough for the mother to have to deal with then to top it off with the menstrual cycle too would be just too darned much. The girl wouldn't know what the heck is going on with her body and having to introduce her to sanitary napkins or tampons where she'd most likely be removing them for they're uncomfortable would become one heck of a mess if in were done in public. Besides, why have the girl go through all of that when it's really unnecessary? So what if she can't have children. Who were to take care of them? Her mom? Why should she when it's her time to enjoy retirement? Besides, mom may not live long enough to see her grandchildren grow so why should the girl experience having kids when she wouldn't know the difference anyway. What are these campaigners thinking anyway? They're not the ones in the situation.

Hmmm - this is a sensitive subject. I understand the mother's perspective. If her daughter could not mentally, emotionally, or physically deal with motherhood, then what she is proposing is likely in the best interest of her child. So I don't think her request to get her daughter a hysterectomy is out of line. And if her daughter somehow did get pregnant, then the mother would be the one raising the baby. But I can see how advocacy groups are protesting this. There is a fine line between doing what's best for a disabled person, and taking away their personal rights. I can see how they don't want precedents set, to help protect disabled peoples' rights. I personally think it should be handled on a case by case basis. If I were the mother, I'd probably do the same thing. She is trying to act in the best interests of her daughter.

I am disabled and think this is a horrible idea. If these people weren't disabled as I am; they wouldn't be able to do this to them. Despite desires to protect them or whatever. Thank God, I can speak.

I've discussed this before citing the instance of my first husbands niece. She was living in a mixed home and experimenting with boys and her parents had her have the op so as not to incur a pregnancy. It makes a lot of sense to me. This young girl was developing rapidly with the mentality of a five year old. She was very affectionate with her brother, father, cousins and uncles and couldn't understand how inappropriate it was, pregnancy was inevitable. Michelle was also very strong with out realising it. Her affections if rebuffed were changed to violent outrage. It was difficult to control her. It would be impossible for her to have and raise a child.

A hysterectomy at such a young age puts her at risk for other health issues. I wonder if there isn't medication that could prevent her menstrual bleeding. Of course that too has risks. Depending on the mental age I agree that she should be sterilized to protect her from victimization pregnancy. If her mental age is lower than ten or twelve "the joys of motherhood" would not be hers anyway. It would be cruel, I think. In a perfect world she wouldn't need protection. But we know the world is far from perfect and there are people who would take advantage of her. There are no easy answers.

It sounds like from I read of this case in the link to the BBC news source, the daughter is severely retarded. I'm glad the mother said her desire to have her child get a hysterectomy shouldn't be a general policy in the disability community. The mother sounds sincere. I wonder if its in the back of her mind, not to let her kid produce more like her. Your message bought back thoughts of the Eugenics movement, Buck vs Bell. A woman who was thought to be retarded was forced to be sterilized by order of O.W. Holmes 1920s. Realise this is different. It seems like the mother's motivation is to not let her girl suffer from monthly periods. Still I'm concerned this would, despite what the mother said, invite more hysterectomies of people with disabilities. Personally I think such action should be decided on an individual case basis. Since it seems like the girl can't express her feelings, thoughts, the best parents can do is hope they make the right choice.

It sounds like from I read of this case in the link to the BBC news source, the daughter is severely retarded. I'm glad the mother said her desire to have her child get a hysterectomy shouldn't be a general policy in the disability community. The mother sounds sincere. I wonder if its in the back of her mind, not to let her kid produce more like her. Your message bought back thoughts of the Eugenics movement, Buck vs Bell. A woman who was thought to be retarded was forced to be sterilized by order of O.W. Holmes 1920s. Realise this is different. It seems like the mother's motivation is to not let her girl suffer from monthly periods. Still I'm concerned this would, despite what the mother said, invite more hysterectomies of people with disabilities. Personally I think such action should be decided on an individual case basis. Since it seems like the girl can't express her feelings, thoughts, the best parents can do is hope they make the right choice.

hysterctomy should have medical indications.If the mother do that for no reason- that is mutilation.No operation has no guaranteed absence of compl;ications and the girl would be subjected to anesthesia, blood loss and possible infection when you open her body.We as doctors aim to save lives, not to harm people. -dra ang, obgyn, philippines