do people think that the British disabled girl should have an hysterectomy?

Question

her mother wants to save her the trauma of having periods and all the disruption that hormones bring.Predictably the usual suspects are up in arms shouting about human rights.How can a girl with no communication, doubly incontinent, no awareness of her condition have rights over her mother?

The- she. what makes you think she would need HRT? she wouldn't.

Answer 1

I'm surprised at the positive reaction in response to this posting, only two outright PC idiots (crabby & yaktur) a
few waverers, but some hope for what used to be the
percieved common sense, parents have the right to make
decisions for their offspring until they come of age.
Don't people realise that the government and EU,are
trying to impose a Marxist ideology from the 1920's? now
renamed PC! Edit: Oh! I missed another PC idiot Chiliswoman.

Answer 2

I personally dont know what I would do if it was my mother,the onyl thing I'd say is, and i could be mis informed here, but aren't hysterectomys quite dangerous for the woman involved.
I'm not sure how disabled this girl is but what I would say is that 99/100 times parents do the best thing by their children so Im leaning towards agreeing with the mother, its just a real shame that more can't be done to give this girl all the facts and the choice herself!

Answer 3

It's funny how the people who are against this girl's hysterectomy miss a couple of very good points.

Point 1 - periods are stressful enough for an able bodied woman, so imagine what they must be like for someone disabled...being reliant on someone else to clean up something messy and unpleasant because you can't, it would be embarrassing (for those who were mentally aware) and distressing.

Point 2 - it has been known in the past that women who have needed to be put in care have been RAPED, and gone on to become pregnant. There are still perverts out there who somehow beat the system and get jobs in care homes, putting vulnerable women at greater risk.

What is the most humane thing to do? Allow this young woman her 'rights' to suffer periods/unwanted pregnancy/abortion/traumatic birth? (Bear in mind of course she would be incapable of looking after a baby) Or would it be better to give her an operation that would give her a better quality of life?

Answer 4

I used to care for a lady who had a severe learning disability and Autism. She had a hysterectamony in her teens due to the fact she was not coping with periods, ie taking her pads off and leaving them everywhere. With current infection control guidelines the girl will need very close supervision, which may not always be practical or wanted by the girl. The lady who did have the operation under similar circumstances did have an improvement in her behaviours and hygene. However, due to her inability to do correct post operative exercises, her stomach muscles are practically none existant. This means that buying clothes for her is very difficult, often needing maternity clothes. It may also, as she gets older lead to back and pelvic floor problems. Hopefully medical science has advanced somewhat in the past 20 years so the hysterectamony operation is less invasive and traumatic for this young lady

Answer 5

A British girl? There was a similar story a year ago in America. In that case the girl was 9 but had a mentality of a baby (literately) and realistically someone in her condition would have a slim to no chance of having a serious relationshp due to her capabilities and not having any social understanding.

I think it would depend on the girl's mentality and everything else. Just because she's mute doesn't mean she doesn't have a brain or other social abilities.

Answer 6

She will always have her own rights as an individual with a disability - no matter how disabled she is. Her mother's rights can never supercede her own.

But unlike the Ashley X situation which also included giving her hormones to stop her growth - I agree based on the information I know that a hysterectomy is an appropriate procedure for this particular child.

But I am still worried that when we allow one child to have a hysterectomy she cannot approve - we open the door to return to the day when most people with cognitive and psychiatric disabilities were sterilized - many against their will who in the future would have made capable parents.

The slippery slope is real - and although I do agree with the need for the procedure in this particular child- the risk of it happening to children who will grow up and regret the decision made for them is too high.

ETA: A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure and carries with it risk. A child who has a hysterectomy needs HRT which carries with it further risk. There is seasonal- which gives you 4 periods a year - and others products which give you even fewer.

ETA2: If this child is so unaware - then she will also be unaware she is having menstrual periods. Infants are not scared of blood if that is the cognitive level they are purporting her to be.

Answer 7

It is really the logical thing to do. The mother is the principal carer and will have to deal with the consequences when the young woman reaches puberty and will have to do so for the rest of her life.There is nothing to be lost for the young woman and everything to be gained including her own comfort and peace of mind. It is all very well for the Human Rights people to express an opinion but they aren't the ones looking after this unfortunate girl.
All credit to her Mother, these carers so often go unrewarded and unthanked.No doubt Crabby blind guy will be volunteering regular assistance to the Mother to give her some time off and holidays, don't hold your breath.

Answer 8

Me n Tc both agree that the operation should be allowed and as soon as possible. Her mother loves her and wants what's best for her....there is no-one in the world who would know better than her mother what is in her best interests and if anyone opposes it they haven't thought it through properly. I worked in a special hospital in Scotland in the 1970's where there were young girls' having periods every month. None of them understood what was happening to them, some were visibly upset and at times very frightened and sanitary products never stayed in place properly. Some of them had awful pain as can happen with menstruation and hearing their screams because they were confused and frightened by this every month was heartbreaking. Our hearts go out to this family and they are in our prayers that this situation will be resolved swiftly and with as little opposition as possible.

Answer 9

It's always the ones who don't do the "care taking' that scream the most about human rights when they don't have a clue what the hang they're even talking about.

What on earth would be the point of allowing a severely disabled girl to go into puberty??? Dear God! What would anybody hope that she could gain?? Pu-----lease!
Give the mother the rights she needs to take care of this girl and leave them to their challenges in life....sounds like they have enough without outsiders butting in with their 2 cents worth to complicate matters even more.

Answer 10

I doubt this girl's mother would suggest a hysterectomy unless it was for her daughter's benefit, and I also doubt any surgeon would carry out a hysterectomy unless certain there was medical benefits for doing it.

If the child is likely to be incapable to make this sort of decision for herself, and the reasons for doing it are sound and well-informed - then yes, I think they should perform a hysterectomy.

EDIT:
Crabby-blindguy - how can you possibly compare this girl's mother to the Nazis?! How do you know her reason's are not for the good of the child? Your answer is way off the scale.