Institutional abuse: tubal sterilization in a population at risk of ill-treating their children

Abstract

Among the 145 patients at risk of child abuse and neglect who were seen in 1980 in our institution in the prevention of child abuse and neglect prenatal clinic, 19 were sterilized after giving birth. The criteria applied to these 19 patients were compared to the common criteria applied to our general maternity population. We were able to prove that these common criteria were systematically disregarded in the case of a mother at risk of ill-treating her child. We further studied our approach from the angle of the conflict which could exist for health care professionals between the choice of leaving these women with the right to reproduce or putting an end to a history of ill-treatment of children.

PIP: Among the 145 patients at risk of child abuse and neglect who were seen in 1980 in the authors' institution in the prevention of child abuse and neglect prenatal clinic, 19 were sterilized after giving birth. The criteria applied to these 19 patients were compared to the common criteria applied to the general maternity population. It was possible to prove that these common criteria were systematically disregarded in the case of a mother at risk of ill-treating her child. The authors further studied the approach from the angle of the conflict which could exist for health care professionals between the choice of leaving these women with the right to reproduce and or putting an end to a history of ill-treatment of children.