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*Ø* Blogmanac | Ireland - 'Barbaric' operations on women

Stranglehold of (exclusively male) Church
New evidence has emerged that a "barbaric" operation, carried out as an alternative to Caesarean section, was practised on a much larger scale in Irish hospitals than previously thought. A support group of women who underwent 'symphysiotomies', which involves the permanent widening of the pelvis, has obtained figures which show that 348 of the operations were carried out in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda between 1950 and 1983. Several hundred such procedures were also carried out at maternity hospitals in Dublin, according to official figures.

Many of the women say their consent was never sought for the operations and they are now suffering from a range of conditions including incontinence, acute back pain and mobility problems.

Apparently there is evidence to show the operation was carried out for religious rather than medical reasons. Documents show some doctors feared women faced with the prospect of repeated Caesarean sections when giving birth might opt for contraception or sterilisation. The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, however, says that while religion may have played a role in the practice, it was used chiefly as an alternative to the Caesarean section, seen as more dangerous 50 years ago.

The Taoiseach (PM) said today that the Minister for Health was examining a report from the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and would "bring forward his conclusions". Describing the practice as barbaric and mutilation, Sinn Fein's leader in the Dail, Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain said it was used because "a very strict Catholic ethos operated" in these hospitals that women "should go through this procedure rather than have Caesarean sections".

Sources: Irish Times and Parliament of Ireland