Female genital mutilation 'offered by UK medics'

[oldironside]

As many as 100,000 women in Britain have undergone female genital mutilations (FGM) with medics in the UK offering to carry out the illegal procedure on girls as young as 10, it has been reported.

Investigators from the Sunday Times said they had secretly filmed a doctor, dentist and alternative medicine practitioner who were allegedly willing to perform FGM or arrange for the operation to be carried out. The doctor and dentist deny any wrongdoing.

The practice, which involves the surgical removal of external genitalia and in some cases the stitching of the vaginal opening, is illegal in Britain and carries up to a 14-year prison sentence. It is also against the law to arrange FGM.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/22/female-genital-mutilation-uk-medics

[Ecumenist]

1. DAFUQ??!! UK MEDICS ARE OFFERING TO DO THIS?? Tell you what, maybe someone should slice off

their bits and pieces and see how well they fare in life...

[Riftaxe]

2. Should adult women be allowed to

undergo this operation if they feel it is part of their faith or just on a lark?

I think it goes without saying that it is beyond reprehensible to perform the surgery on children/teens no matter their consent in the matter?

[LeftishBrit]

4. Not in the UK, they shouldn't

If they are THAT desperate to have that horrible procedure done, then they can travel somewhere that allows it; but I don't want the medical profession of my country complicit in it.

Certainly, no young girls should have it, even if they claim to consent.

[intaglio]

3. Not permitted in the UK

Posted earlier in GD by alp227: link here http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002594883

In response to the other posters on this thread I repeat my answer from alp227's thread

If a doctor or dentist is practising it then it is automatic striking off the Medical Register in addition to long term imprisonment. BUT proof in court is needed.

If these idiots are doing it they will claim religious belief as a mitigating factor but the real reason is they are doing it for easy money.

I will add that if women over the age of consent (18 in GB) chooses to have this (ugh) proceedure then they are entitled to do so, but GB medical practitioners would be struck off by the GMC as would any nurses participating; any dentist would be liable to imprisonment for acting as an unlicensed general surgeon as would any other medically trained persons. Private individuals would just be imprisoned.

[LeftishBrit]

5. There's now an Avaaz petition about this.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Stop_female_genital_mutilation_in_the_UK/?cl=1821923833&v=14523

[oldironside]

6. Signed.

I just wish I could do something more proactive - like personally castrating the religious leaders who propogate this barbarism. I've got a rusty pair of garden shears in the cellar...

[tjwmason]

8. Seconded

To both the signature and the desire for more.

[dipsydoodle]

7. Sorted

Ta for the link.