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Hysterectomies the answer: Govt

"Mentally retarded adolescent girls or adult women have no sense of hygiene during menstruation.”

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Tells high court mentally ill women have no sense of personal hygiene

MUMBAI: “Mentally retarded adolescent girls or adult women have no sense of hygiene during menstruation.” Shockingly, this is the prime reason given by the state government for once again backing the controversial move to perform hysterectomies (removal of uterus) on mentally retarded women housed in the state’s five mental institutions.

In a five-page affidavit submitted to the Bombay High Court, Shahdeo Ware, deputy secretary of Women and Child Development Department, has endorsed guidelines vetted by four government doctors recommending hysterectomies on mentally retarded women with an intelligence quotient (IQ) below 50.

Disabled rights’ activists, however, have opposed the move stating that apart from causing hormonal imbalances such irreversible surgical interventions violate the rights of the mentally disabled.
 
DNA interacted with 12 mentally disabled girls (over 16 years of age), all with an IQ below 50, at the SPJ Sadhana School at Peddar Road on Monday and found that all of them were aware of their menstrual cycles and were capable of maintaining hygiene personally. Labelling the government’s move as “an easy way out”, the principal, Sister E Gaitonde, said, “Persons with IQ as low as 20 can be taught how to maintain personal hygiene. All it takes is a little time and commitment.”

The controversy dates back to 1994, when hysterectomies were performed on 17 mentally disabled women inmates of Shirur Home in Pune. The HC had initiated suo motu proceedings against the government’s move and though no further hysterectomies were performed, the issue was never resolved.

Fourteen years later, in early January, while hearing a petition filed by health activist Anand Phadke and others, the HC asked the government to state its stand on affidavit. A total of 330 girls and women are housed in the state’s five mental institutions. Justifying its move, the government affidavit filed on January 18 states that, unlike stool or urine, during menstruation the flow is continuous and lasts up to at least 100 hours a month. Care-givers find it difficult to deal with inmates who are uncooperative.  

It adds that poor hygiene can lead to infection and laceration on thighs and genitals. Increased flow can cause anaemia. Behavioural problems and psychotic symptoms further cause hindrance to care-givers. All that is needed to perform the operation is the consent of parent/guardian and certification from a psychiatrist and gynaecologist that hysterectomy is needed.

“We are challenging these guidelines,” Phadke’s lawyer Anand Grover told DNA. He had earlier pointed out to the HC that hysterectomies were performed for the convenience of the institute, to prevent pregnancy in case of sexual abuse and not for the welfare of the patient. The Government had no authority to conduct a hysterectomy on mentally disabled women. Such a move was violative of their fundamental rights and the Mental Health Act.

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