A mother who has asked doctors to perform a hysterectomy on her disabled teenage daughter today defended her decision.

Alison Thorpe wants surgeons to remove her daughter Katie's womb to save her the pain and discomfort of menstruation.

Her decision has sparked criticism from disability groups who accused Mrs Thorpe of neglecting her daughter's human rights.

But the 45-year-old mother said she wants to protect Katie in future life as she believes the only way she would become pregnant is as a victim of sexual abuse.

'Hysterectomy will protect my girl,' says Katie's mother | Evening Standard

What are you views BNV, is it right for this mother to believe she has the right to remove her child's womb due to her sever learning disabilities?? My initial view was that the reason given do not seem justified - it is natural for you to want to prevent your child pain, but is this not an assumption and in terms of believing the only way her child will be pregnant is through rape, well then surely the point is to ensure she is not raped, not trying to prevent a pregnancy through removing her womb - is it me or is this mother's mind warped?

saw her debate this on gmtv
im in 2 minds
periods are normal bodily functions. removing the womb can cause other complications

I worked with 'special needs' teenagers who as adults, went on to have children. Many of the children became involved with the social services under supervision orders or taken into care because their parents did not have the skills to parent them, nor could they be taught because of their learning disabilities. Many of the children turned out also to have a learning disability, sometimes more severe than their parents because they have inherited the disability from both sides.
I understand the mother's plight that should her daughter become pregant who would take care of the child? What quality of life would any child born under those cirmstances have? But I don't know if I could have my child sterlised. Isn't that what Hitler did during Nazi Germany?
I live next door to a lady with a daughter with learning disabilities. That woman is getting on in years and if her daugher had a child then it would be disastrous for both of them. But having a hysterectomy? Come to think of it, I know one woman who have had it done and she was grateful because it cured her of the heavy bleeding she had from fibroids.

mmm if you seen this womans daughter though. i dont see how she would get up the duff unless she was taken advantage of.

Yes LadyDay, but to remove her womb? Wouldn't you just go for sterilisation if pregnancy were the issue here. to remove the womb stops more than just a pregnancy - mind you, I don't think I would want to mop up my woman child on a monthly basis

What is the disability?

I do not agree with the mother. It is every woman's right to reproduce. It is a right that should not be compromised. A hysterectomy is major surgery and the after affects of the surgery can be devastating not only for the patient but for the caregiver as well. Besides, I am sure that there have been some cases where the child born to a person with disabilities has turned out ok. The mother should not take this right away from her daughter.

Now that I don't agree with. Since when is it 'A RIGHT'? Meaning what? If a woman is unable to reproduce her rights have somehow been infringed.
How about men? Is it equally their RIGHT to IMPREGNATE?

Or did you mean 'Right' in another context?

Respect

Well let's put it this way. If a male child had the level of disability that this young women has, would you agree to the demand that he was made to have a permanent (irreversible) sterilisation for fear that he was raped and therefore fathered a child?