Woman's Right to Reproductive Choice

[DanceInTheGrove]

I am 20 years old, Married for 2 years, and I never want to have biological children. If I want children, I will adopt or foster the children that need a loving home. My husband agrees with me on this 'reproductive choice.'

My husband does not want a vesectomy, and I respect his decision. Therefore I will be the one treated for sterilization: I want a partial hysterectomy, (removal of the uterus).

I am currently looking for the laws on "my side" (woman's rights, reproductive rights, etc) since many doctors will not listen to me about my decision:

"You are too young." - I am legally an adult, and legally able, or liable, to sign a contract 'not to sue the doctor or hospital/clinic if I change my mind'.

"You will change your mind." - I already had one abortion, I am sure my personal convictions of 'not wanting children' stand tall.

"It is different when they are your own." - I will end up having an ADHD, multiple-personality complex, bi-polar, paranoid shizophrenic child given the combination of my genetics and my husband's, so I will make my guess at 'worst case senario'.

"Women are hard-wired to be mothers." - Not all women. There were 15.1 million women in the United States that did not have children, either intentionally or nature's design, according to the 1995 Census.

I'm not looking here for people to preach or try to change my mind. I am here to find some help.

Any help with direct citations of the laws would be welcome. Thank you.

[aardvarc]

You have the right to find a doctor who is willing to perform what a majority of medical professionals will define as "elective" surgery. Doctors have the right to refuse to perform elective procedures on what they feel are otherwise healthy tissue and organs. Check at medicine.net and the University of Michigan Health System websites, and you'll understand why: law suits. OB-GYNs face the highest number of malpractice cases AND the highest premiums. Physicians aren't attorney's - so they are rightfully suspicious that some contract will PREVENT you from suing them after the fact. Most such contracts wouldn't stand up in court anyway. Thus, in cases where the procedure doesn't have some physiological basis to be performed, most will run the other way. It's the same for transgendered men seeking to have similar procedures, even with massive support from psychiatrists (also MD's) that the procedure would be overall beneficial to the patient.

In short, no, there is not a legal mechanism to FORCE a physician to perform the surgery.

[Bubba Jimmy]

Removal of the uterus is not a recognized accepted method of sterilization, tubal ligation is. I don't believe you will find any physician who will remove your healthy uterus as the ethics of doing so are highly questionable. A tubal ligation is likely to be available to you, however.

[Dogmatique]

Removal of the uterus is not a recognized accepted method of sterilization, tubal ligation is. I don't believe you will find any physician who will remove your healthy uterus as the ethics of doing so are highly questionable. A tubal ligation is likely to be available to you, however.

This is an important point.

There is no need to have a hysterectomy and I agree, OP will be hard pushed to find a decent surgeon willing to remove a healthy uterus.

[CourtClerk]

2 words:
Depo Provera

[Baystategirl]

2 words:
Depo Provera

Yeah...With condoms (just to be EXTRA protected).

[525601minutes]

or try the IUD

[Dogmatique]

In all fairness hormone-based contraception isn't an option for everyone, even a 20 year old.

Jes' sayin'

[DanceInTheGrove]

In short, no, there is not a legal mechanism to FORCE a physician to perform the surgery.

I am not trying to force anyone, I am trying to find someone to AGREE with my decision.

2 words:
Depo Provera

I've been on the Depo Shot for nearly 2 years, and my last shot is due in a few days. FDA says not to take Depo for more than 2 years. Hence why I am looking into Sterilization, not simple Birth Control. I already have "bone problems" and Depo is known to cause osteoperosis.

or try the IUD

My body rejected the Paraguard IUD. And I paid that out of pocket, 500$ worth of 10 years of Birth Control out the window. Not the constant cramps/heavy bleeding or the financial loss. Not again, no thank you.

Don't think I haven't looked into my other options. I Do Not want the Tubal Ligation because I will still have a "period" (which is why I love the Depo, but sadly cannot continue) and I have heard too many horror stories about the Essure to even feel safe with the metal coils in my fallopian tubes the rest of my life.

[CourtClerk]

I've been on the Depo Shot for nearly 2 years, and my last shot is due in a few days. FDA says not to take Depo for more than 2 years. Hence why I am looking into Sterilization, not simple Birth Control. I already have "bone problems" and Depo is known to cause osteoperosis.

I've been on depo 14 years with my doctor's blessing...

I get a bone density test every year. I have a chronic illness. All is well. A partial hysterectomy is not going to happen as a form of birth control. No responsible doctor will do it. You can get yourself to a third world country and see if they'll do it. Hey, Mexico is game to do all kinds of things.