Tubal Ligation & Abortion: Understanding Access & Patient Rights

Question
Hi there. I have a question regarding tubal ligation and abortion. I participate in some on-line forum, and I stumbled upon a discussion regarding a young woman who was considering having her tubes tied. She was only 26 years of age, and had never had a child before. But she knew instinctively (and had known from a young age) that she did not want children. She was asking for advice from other members. I was shocked (and horrified!) to hear that a doctor can refuse to perform a tubal ligation on a woman due to age or due to the fact that she has no children. Also, it was stated that in some states a woman is required to obtain her husband's permission, but the husband is NOT required to obtain his wife's permission should he chose to have a vasectomy. Now, I am Canadian and I know that our laws are more liberal and less likely to be influenced by religion. But for goodness sakes, surely this can not be true? Why should I need my husbands permission to do what I want with MY body? It is I that will have to endure the nine months of pregnancy, and the agony of labor and delivery. And let's face it, it is usually the woman who makes all of the sacrifices and takes on the vast majority of child rearing responsibilities. Is this true? Surely this must be unconstitutional? It is most definitely sexist and unfair!

And are there states that require women to obtain their husbands permission for an abortion? Here in Canada, a woman does NOT require her partners permission to have an abortion or to get her tubes tied. Thank you.

Kathy

Answer
Hi Kathy :)

Yep. In fact, probably MOST of them (doctors) do. You know, because ALL women "naturally" want kids. It's appalling. I have heard from many women how difficult it is to find a doctor to do tubal ligation for any woman without kids. It's incredibly sexist. I know of one woman who had 10 abortions (super super fertile) and doctors were STILL refusing the procedure. Birth control methods weren't working for her, she didn't want kids, and yet...

The husband thing doesn't surprise me either, unfortunately. God forbid you deprive the patriarch of his rightful offspring, right? Ugh. It's quite horrid, and these laws need changing. Oh, one more thing about this: tubal ligations are encouraged for a certain group of women here. Which group? Poor minority women. I don't remember if he was a representative, senator, or what, but he was offering $1,000 dollars to poor women to come get sterilized. I'm sure this ties into so many women not being able to get the procedure-people want plenty of white babies, but poor women are bad mothers and undeserving in their eyes.

There are! I'm not sure if they're still enforced though, but some states do have it on the books. And good for Canada, we should definitely have our laws more close to yours.