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Special commentary on the issue of reinfibulation
Rebecca J Cook1, Bernard M Dickens
1Faculty of Law, Faculty of Medicine and Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada M5S 2C5.
Summary
Physicians should refuse to perform reinfibulation, advising against the harmful practice. While respecting patient autonomy, medical ethics and law prohibit initiating female genital cutting procedures.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Public Health Policy
- Women's Health
Background:
- Reinfibulation, the re-narrowing of the vaginal opening after childbirth, presents complex ethical dilemmas.
- It highlights the tension between individual patient requests and broader public health concerns regarding female genital mutilation (FGM).
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the ethical and legal considerations for physicians regarding reinfibulation.
- To establish a clear policy stance for healthcare professionals on this practice.
Main Methods:
- Ethical analysis of physician responsibilities in cases of reinfibulation requests.
- Review of legal frameworks and professional guidelines pertaining to FGM.
Main Results:
- Physicians should counsel patients on the harms of reinfibulation but not perform the procedure if it breaches ethical or legal standards.
- Refusing to initiate infibulation and educating communities about its harmful, non-obligatory, and often unlawful nature is crucial.
Conclusions:
- Medical professionals must condemn the medicalization of infibulation and reinfibulation.
- Physicians should not engage in reinfibulation, even as a harm-reduction strategy, to avoid condoning FGM.
