legal and ethical issues Flashcards
What does FGM stand for?
Female genital mutilation
What is FGM?
Female genital mutation (FGM) = all procedures that involve partial or total removal of external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for cultural or non-medical reasons
What are ‘justifications’ for FGM?
- Preservation of virginity and chasity
- Religion
- Social acceptance
- Fear of social exclusion
- Ensure girl is marriageable or to improve marriage prospect
- Hygiene
- Family honour
- Enhancing fertility
Describe the epidemiology of FGM (countries)?
Most common in central Africa
- Risk is more associated with ethnicity/tribe than country
What are risk factors for FGM?
- Mother has had FGM
- Older sister or cousin has had FGM
- Mother or father has requested re-infibulation following delivery
- Parents express views which show they value the practice
- Girl withdrawn from all teaching classes on personal, social or health education
What are the different types of FGM?
Type 1, clitoridectomy
- Partial or total removal of the clitoris and, in rare cases, only the prepuceType 2, excision
- Partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majoraType 3, infibulation
- Narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal, formed from cutting and repositioning the inner or outer labia, with or without the removal of the clitoris
- Also called pharaonic circumcision
Procedures done to open up and close vagina before and after childbirth - De-infibulation – surgical procedure to open up closed vagina of FMG type 3
- Re-infibulation – re-stitching of FGM type 3 to re-close vagina after childbirth, illegal in UKType 4, other
- All other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes
- Such as pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterising the genital area
What is a clitoridectomy?
Type 1, clitoridectomy
- Partial or total removal of the clitoris and, in rare cases, only the prepuce
What is an excision FGM?
Type 2, excision
- Partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora
What is infibulation?
Type 3, infibulation
- Narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal, formed from cutting and repositioning the inner or outer labia, with or without the removal of the clitoris
- Also called pharaonic circumcision
Procedures done to open up and close vagina before and after childbirth - De-infibulation – surgical procedure to open up closed vagina of FMG type 3
- Re-infibulation – re-stitching of FGM type 3 to re-close vagina after childbirth, illegal in UK
What are examples of type 4 FGM?
Type 4, other
- All other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes
Such as pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterising the genital area
What is the management of FGM?
Normal child protection procedures should be invoked
- Follow local guidelines
What are possible complications of FGM?
Short term health impact
- Severe pain and shock
- Infection
- Injury to adjacent tissues
- Sprains, dislocations, broken bones or internal injuries
- Infection by blood-borne virusLong term impact
- Urine retentnion and difficulty in menstruation
- Uterus, vaginal and pelvic infections
- Cysts and neuromas
- Complications in pregnancy and childbirth
- Increased risk of fistula
- PTSD/physiological effects
- Sexual dysfunction
What law protects people from FGM?
Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation (Scotland) Act 2005:
Offence of female genital mutilation, as person who performs an action mentioned
- Whole or part of labia majora, labia minora, prepuce of clitoris, clitoris or vagina
- Actions of excising, infibulating or otherwise mutilating
- Aiding and abetting FGM
