From:    Rick Ellis
Subject: I found this in Usenet (sci.med)


My HMO made me have a psychiatric evaluation before my ligation.
They said it was because of my age (I was 26), because I had no
children, and because there had been a large number of women
looking for reversals in their 30s and 40s.

I was furious because they don't question men this way (they
acknowledged that); they were putting me at risk for further
abortions if they refused to do it; it wasn't the gyn (a woman)
who asked for the evaluation, it was the (male) head of the
department; and worst of all, the psychiatrist pronounced me
mentally ill for not wanting children, but approved the procedure
because I was so recalcitrant that I would require years of
therapy to "make me fulfilled and want children."  (Plus, my
husband would have to have therapy as well.)  Ridiculous!

Certainly, the procedure should be discussed thoroughly with
the patient, with emphasis on the permanency of it.  The idea
that women are "naturally" predisposed toward mothering is
sexist poppycock.

Max Vasilatos
max@athena.mit.edu


From:    Donna.
To:      Rick Ellis                             Msg #72, 02:42pm Jan-27-91
Subject: Re: I found this in Usenet (sci.med)


> I was furious because they don't question men this way (they
>                            ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^
> acknowledged that); they were putting me at risk for further
>                                          ^^ ^^^^
> abortions if they refused to do it;
> ^^^^^^^^^

These are the two that slay me the most!  Having tried the surgical
sterilization route myself, I can second every one of those charges.  Glad
you posted it here, Rick; if I don't see it on FEMINISM in the next day or
two, I'll *put* it there.

I'm at a complete loss as to why some people feel that they know better
than we know ourselves when it comes to do with our bodies.  (sigh)