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The Value of Virginity.

Christine Mitchell¹

¹Harvard Medical School, Center for Bioethics, 641 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115 USA. christine_mitchell@hms.harvard.edu.

The Journal of Clinical Ethics

|July 2, 2015

Summary

Hymen reconstruction surgery offers a way for women to repair their hymen for cultural or religious reasons. The ethics of this procedure are complex and debated, especially in medical contexts.

Area of Science:

Medical Ethics
Surgical Procedures
Women's Health

Background:

Hymen reconstruction surgery is a procedure to repair the hymen.
It is often requested by women for religious and cultural reasons, to appear as if the hymen is intact on their wedding night.
The procedure and its ethical implications are subjects of ongoing debate.

Discussion:

The ethical justification for hymen reconstruction surgery is complex and contentious.
Medical professionals face ethical dilemmas when presented with requests for this procedure.
Case studies, such as the one presented by the Harvard Ethics Consortium, explore these dilemmas.

Key Insights:

The procedure addresses a perceived need driven by cultural and religious beliefs.

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Ethical considerations involve patient autonomy, medical ethics, and cultural practices.

The case highlights the intersection of medicine, ethics, and socio-cultural norms.

Outlook:

Further discussion is needed on the ethical guidelines for performing or referring patients for hymen reconstruction.
Understanding the socio-cultural drivers behind such requests is crucial for healthcare providers.
Continued exploration of these cases can inform medical ethics education and practice.