Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

Education And Debate

The ethics of intimate examinations—teaching tomorrow's doctorsCommentary: Respecting the patient's integrity is the keyCommentary: Teaching pelvic examination—putting the patient first

BMJ 2003; 326 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.326.7380.97 (Published 11 January 2003) Cite this as: BMJ 2003;326:97

Rapid Response:

Re: The Ethics of Intimate Examinations

I am trying very hard to understand the medical profession's
obsession with women's vaginas and rectums, and the arrogance in its
ongoing practice to make unnecessary adjustments to women's sexual anatomy
without informed consent. It happens to be unethical, disrespectful and
cruel behaviour that should be eliminated from all the specialties
involved in the health care of women.

Lise Cloutier-Steele

Author of Misinformed Consent - Women's Stories about Unnecessary
Hysterectomy

Foreword by Stanley T. West, M.D.

Overview by Mary Anne Wyatt

Next Decade, Inc., February 2003 (www.nextdecade.com)

Competing interests:  
None declared

Competing interests: No competing interests

03 February 2003
Lise Cloutier-Steele
Author of Misinformed Consent - Women's Stories about Unnecessary Hysterectomy
Canada K1V 1P4