Fraud in the inducement is a legal term used to describe a scenario where one person has tricked or deceived another into a harmful situation they would not have entered into if they had known they would be harmed.
In the example of hysterectomy, a woman is induced into signing a consent form under the guise that she needs the surgery, there are no alternatives to hysterectomy, and she may die without it. But that is rarely the case. She is also induced into signing the consent form by being told she will be “better than ever after the surgery,” or that she will be a “new woman.” She is then drugged, strapped to a table, and her female organs are removed, because of erroneous information supplied by the inducers.
No woman is unharmed or undamaged by the removal of her female organs, but that is really not the point. The point is, women who are provided with the information required for informed consent, such as the information provided in the HERS video “Female Anatomy: the Functions of the Female Organs,” decide against undergoing hysterectomy.
As we make clear in our book The H Word: What gynecology doesn’t want you to know about 100 years of hysterectomy and female castration in America, whether the surgery might be one of the 2% that are lifesaving or not is irrelevant. It’s every woman’s right to know the information that is requisite to informed consent prior to being asked to sign a hysterectomy consent form, whether she has a mere annoyance or a true health problem.
Fraud in the inducement for hysterectomy requires proof that 1) a false statement of material fact was made, 2) the doctor/hospital knew or should have known the material fact was false, 3) the false statement induced the woman into signing the consent form, and 4) the hysterectomy caused injury to the woman who relied on the misrepresentation as fact.
False statements of material fact on medical websites are more the standard than the exception. A survey of doctor, government health agency, and hospital websites demonstrates that not only do doctors remove sex organs without providing the information required for informed consent, the information they do provide is often erroneous and unsupported by anatomical fact, as was confirmed on the blog post, “Hysterectomy and Female Castration: the Enablers Part II.” Most of the false statements are authored by doctors and hospitals that claim to be sources of medical expertise, who should know that the information they publish runs contrary to anatomical fact. Women are encouraged to use this information to make a decision about hysterectomy. The adverse effects then cause injury to more than 621,000 women in the U.S. each year.
For more on this subject, see the article “Sanctioned Violence Against Women,” published in The Women’s International Perspective (The Wip).
We are interested to hear how your experience with hysterectomy fits the four requirements above for fraud in the inducement. Would you take part in a class action lawsuit against doctors and “patient education” institutions that supplied the erroneous information used to induce you to sign a hysterectomy consent form?
Please be brief in your comments about how your experience fits the four legal requirements of fraud in the inducement.
Yes, I would participate. I was bluntly lied to by my doctor. They also lied me about my pathology report. They didn’t care to lie. I don’t think these people are afraid of lawsuits. These hospitals have an army of lawyers. I literally screamed into my mask to stop the surgery and I woke up to the thought it was too late.
I was bullied and harassed in the hospital. They belittled my “questions”.
I started a petition on Change.org https://www.change.org/FloridaHysterectomy
Please sign and share. I would never have agreed to this surgery. They took advantage of my vulnerability. I will also be doing a protest at this hospital in Miami in August.
Be well, stay healthy and above all question your doctor.
What those evil doctors did to me was 100% fraud and criminal malpractice. I NEVER ever suffered any gynaecological problemw whatsover. I wasn’t told there are greedy, corrupt doctors who target healthy women into unnecessary radical hysterectomies and this racket has been going on for many decades and will NEVER STOP because the whole system protects the mutilators and does everything to destroy the patients who tries to expose how they were bullied, threatened and conned as I found out firsthand in the aftermath of this surgical battery.. http://thewip.net/arts-culture/feature-articles/sanctioned-violence-against-women-fraud-in-the-inducement/
Medical Rape: Coerced Hysterectomy … – Hormones Matter
https://www.hormonesmatter.com/medical-rape-coerced
I was totallly scammed this fall…I had post menopausal bleeding – went to my OB-GYN he said it’s not cancer it’s very rare it’s cancer. A week later called me after hours at home “you need to get back in here for a biopsy” which was horrible he didn’t give me sedative or 600 mg of Ibuprofen b4 or after as he had to run out the door for a Jewish Holiday. He took the biopsy on Sat at 11:40 last appt of the day by Tues 5:00 pm called me w a quivering voice that Endometrial Stage 1 was found I need to get back in to sign the forms for a hysterectomy NOW a simple op w minimal pain and downtime which is true. I called a real gynecological surgeon told her what was going on…she did a Vag Ultrasound which was concurrent with his findings so I went w her …the operation was scary but as stated Robotic makes it very simple stayed overnight went home the next day only existed on 600 mgs of Ibuprofen didn’t take any Oxy.
MY POINT: We did our Tele-Med appt 4 weeks later for her to exclaim NO CANCER FOUND! It was small benign tumor and all tissue around it NO CANCER FOUND! NO CANCER found in my ovaries or fallopian tubes or cervix! I went up into the stratosphere….a few months later I realized I had been duped big time. She could have just taken out the tumor w some tissue to biopsy it in a day surgery…THEY WANT THE $$$$$ IT’S VERY LUCRATIVE She did 4 that day at $40K a pop! I am fuming mad.
A friend said because I went from one Dr. to another and they both said Stage 1 or 1A is what she now has on my portal…it would be hard for me to sue. I am fuming mad — I WAS PUT THROUGH HELL & BACK!
I worked next to a medical malpractice firm for 11 years know one of the Lawyers well I am thinking of contacting him…what do you think?
PS – I am trying to get my real pathology reports going to show up at the hospital pathology this week to get them w/o the Doctor(s) knowing.
I hope you sue. Did either of those docs provide you with the results Stg 1-the actual lab? I had hysterectomy 2021 too. And there’s 3 years in WA state to pursue legal action. However, you prob have a really good case.
I would so love to be a part of this..had hysterectomy in 2015 was told due to heavy bleeding was told needed it and life would be better after…well no it’s not I I’m extremely depress and have so much anger in me to how its change my life around..I used to be this happy person now I’m not it changed me in ways you couldn’t imagine..but doctors fail to inform you about what really happens to a woman after hysterectomy…theres times I even feel suicidal….so yes you can count me in
Zoraida,
You are needed to be a part of the solution. Please go to HERS website at hersfoundation.org and go to the page “In My Own Voice” and click on the red “Count Me In” button. If you need helping making and submitting a vdeo or a letter please let me know. HERS Foundation 610-667-7757. I am so sorry for all that you are going through. Thank you for being part of the solution.
Zoraida,
You can make a video on your phone and send it to HERS and we will put it on our website page “In My Own Voice”. Go to hersfoundation.org. In the navigation bar at the top of the page click on “In My Own Voice”. Then click on the button “Count Me In” and follow the easy instructions on how to submit a video or a letter. If you need help contact HERS at 610-667-7757 and we will be glad to walk you through it. You can tell other women the truth about the consequences of hysterectomy. We are in this together and together we can stop this from being done to the next generation of girls and women.
My wife went through hysterectomy. Albert Pisani, gave false information, that my wife possibly has a cancer, and hysterectomy is life saving process. After biopsy results came clear – he said “oh, that’s great! she’ll never have a cancer!”
We talked to multiple lawyers, but none of them accepted the case – it wasn’t “serious enough”. Medical Board California cleared Albert Pisani and said, he didn’t make any error.
My wife is being treated for depression and PTSD, becuase of hysterectomy.
If there would be a class-action suite, count her in!
I am so sorry about your wife’s experience. She was the primary victim, you and everyone who loves her are the secondary victims. Your wife can be part of the solution by posting a video or writing a letter to post on the HERS Foundation website hersfoundation.org on the page “In My Own Voice”. It is not too late to be part of the solution.
Thank you. Please call HERS at 610-667-7757 if you need any help posting or if HERS be of help to you and your wife.
My story is no different from all the women that’s a victim of hysterectomy, I thank God for Hers foundation, I found some hope, to live on , still suffering in pain every day from being told I needed a hysterectomy by my doctor he told me if I don’t would die , on top of that he took my too good ovaries; I tried to sue lost my case yes a class action suit is needed. Three years later I ended up having a bowel obstruction, my intestine was twisted, pain every day. What keeps me going is my faith in God praying for us all and Praying for Nora and staff that God wii reward us all for what we went through and still going through with this unnecessary hysterectomy, that these greedy doctors they get away with murder . But I believe not for long . After my hysterectomy was done my doctor told me to find another doctor office very sad.
Brenda,
I am so sorry that this was done to you. Coming forward and telling others about your experience is courageous. Kudos for making a difference for all women who read what you have written.
Nora W Coffey, President
HERS Foundation
I was recently a victim of the deliberate lies and misinformation by a gynaecologist. My reproductive organs were removed without a diagnosis, examination or tests by him. I was healthy before the surgery but now it’s difficult to even do any of the simple physical activities I used to do and I now have numerous health problems, I don’t even know where to start!!
There should be no discussion or negotiation about whether removing ovaries for benign reasons is classified as harmful or not in medical law. All evidence shows it definately is GRIEVIOUS BODILY HARM. No question about it! !!! It results in death! Women should be advised to report this barbaric practice, these doctors are going against the oath they sign. They are supposed to be saving lives not deliberately causing irreversible harm and early death on female patients, just because we menstruate.
These surgeries are still taking place and must be stopped by legally!!
Class action is needed!!
Lee,
I wish we would have connected before this was done to you. Your speaking out and telling others what was done to you is a powerful way of alerting and warning women about the true consequences of hysterectomy. We cannot depend on the majority of gynecologists to provide women with information about the life long functions of the female organs and the consequences of their removal.
I know it is too late for this information to help you avoid the surgery and I wish it were otherwise. It is too late to change this for the 21 million women in the USA today who have been victimized by doctors who denied them with the information they needed to make a fully informed decision about signing an Informed Consent to hysterectomy without the information they needed. You are making a difference for the next generation of women and girls.
My gynocologist simply told me that it was time. My pelvic pain intensified to epic prportions.After my doctor went over the medical aspects of the surgery I was told to go out in the lobby and someone will be out to talk to me about the procedure and what to expect. Her practice was very large and busy with that said that person never came out to talk with me so I left convinced that this was the right choice for me. The doctor went over the medical aspects only of the surgery itself not able,to tell me what she was going to take until she "got in there". Unfortunately I put total faith in her as she was one of the most well respected doctors in her field in our area. I woke up to absolutely nothing left. I was aware of the hormonal shifts of the surgery to a degree but I was not aware that in about 6 weeks I was going to be an emotional wreck. I was lead to believe the nerve pills and hormones would help me through but it didn't. What is worse is after my 4 week check up she was completely unavailable to me. Her office staff would not even allow me to talk to the nurse. Before I went back to work at 6 weeks I called because I was in pain and my anxiety was at an all time high. I was prescribed pain meds not strong enough to alleviate my pain, I was pretty much ignored. When I started back work I called again with the same complaint and was told I would get a call back and again was ignored. I lost my dignity, may have lost my job and was basically treated as if this was all in my head or "my fault".
Anonymous,
What you are experiencing is not “All in your head”, and it is not your fault. You did not go to medical school, and women and girls are not taught about the life long critically important functions of their female organs. The responsibility for what was done to you sits squarely on the shoulders of the gynecologist who did this to you.
You did nothing wrong.
I would definitely participate in a class action lawsuit! I was induced into signing in the exact way this talks about. I was lied to and tricked and treated terrible by my doctor afterwards. I've had several complications following the procedure and some life threatening resulting in additional surgery. I have since found a new doctor and am currently undergoing therapy for all of the trauma this has brought to my life and my entire family has been affected negatively by my terrible total hysterectomy. My husband and I were deceived and lied to on several occasions by my doctor. My pathology report didn't match my wishes or what the doctor reported after surgery. I was never informed of all of the high risks I would be faced with and at high risk for serious and deadly possible factors like greater risk of cancer and heart disease. Or major complications and life altering problems during and after recovering. I have several other complaints and an ER nurse that treated me and gave me her contact info and said she would verify and testify to the unethical treatment I received.
I've often wondered how my uterus, ovaries, tubes, and eggs were used. There was nothing wrong with them – just a benign ovarian cyst! Yet, I had no recourse to sue this sorry excuse of a doctor (one I'd trusted for 20 years) and the gynecology residents who robbed me of my health and quality of life, no less at a Catholic hospital that considers birth control a mortal sin. Yet this same hospital (Mercy) removes women's sex organs at alarming rates thereby PERMANENTLY STERILIZING THEM.
But sadly, my damages are MUCH MORE than not being able to conceive since our sex organs have functions far beyond reproduction.
if doctors were sued or charged with crimes based on use of removed uterus , ovaries and eggs it might be productive. If records from doctors and hospitals documenting what is done with our removed organs were supeoned I think this would get their attention. I never gave informed consent to have my removed organs used in any way, especially not my eggs. Isn't that a form of kidnapping or trafficking in stolen body parts? Just a thought.
Also lets stop the practice of capitalizing the word doctor. It sublimely gives them status hysterectomy performing gynos don't deserve.
I had just found out about this action i also am a victim of hysterectomy in 2009 i was in and out seeing diffrent docs about my issues i was having no one could find what was going on so they sent my to a gyn and the second time i had seen him and said my issues are still the same he recemended a vaginal and laparoscopie hysterctomy so i got it done and now im worse and still in and out seeing docs and being hospitalize for 4 5 days and get diagnosed diffrent things and still dont help and i told them all it has got worse since the surgery of my hysterctomy and one day i was hosptialize in nov 2012 and they diagnosed me with enteritis which has to do with my small intestine and bowel. i forgot to say the doc that did my surgery retired 6 months after my surgery. how do i go abouts being in a class action suit
Janis,
I'm sorry you were also a victim of gynecologists, not only once (ablation) but twice (then hysterectomy).
I don't know if you'll see this but you may want to copy and paste your comment on the current HERS blog. I don't know how often women read the archived blogs.
sheila i am here to tell women do not have novasure it will ruine your life you will be going to doctor after doctor trying to figure out why you are in so much pain had mineaug 06 woke up coughing up blood for weeks have right side pain that never goes away urin that looks like pus in it feels like a poisoning everything wears you out your side is so tender you dont want to touch it i dont wish this on my worst enemy they should get women togeather and get a class action law suite against novasure no one should ever have to suffer this way went to emegency rooms one says are you here for drugs i say no im in pain dont do nothing nexst one says could you be pregnant said no husband been fixed you must be screwing around i said no no help there so doctor after doctor i go 8 ct scans 4 gyns 4 urologist ultrasonds blood test urine cultures uti all the time my urine looks like carmel with white settlings in it cant get any answers from any one went far away to gyn who says nothing wrong with your uterus im crying no one is hearing me now its 2010 still going threw all this pain feels like blood is traped cant get out i tell him this he says he dont have a period he feels just fine run more test deside to do hystertomy 2011 find out i have scar tissue from novasure and my uterus is boggy takr cerviix uterus one overies but before i had hystertomy had me get mammagram called me back in found lumps each breasr sent me to cancer doctor that coulnt do biobsey at that hospital she didnt have rights insurance would only pay half so i said forget it nexst day had hystertomy now paying bills dedutable cant afford any other test my pockets are emepty if the cancer takes my life then i will know i had it but i am here to warn other women dont let this happen to you that is all i can do and i am here to do just that i believed that they would help me but its all about money each time i went to doctors i said a prayer please forgive them father they know what they do do not get nova sure the hystertomy helped some but things still is not right i will never find out whats wrong but i really did try get help for myself the best that i could i knew it wasnt in our heads like they wanted us to believe i would cry my self to sleep and i can take alot of pain had two kids natural without any medicine i layed on ice day night burned my side with ice even bubbled up with water in it this doctor wanted to put me in pain management i said ive been dealing with this this long i will keep dealing with this myself
I am in about the same boat as you are. I have tried every medical/physical/spiritual/social/psychological intervention I could think of to try to get back just a piece of who I was before I was "attacked". When traditional counseling failed to help,I had an AHA! moment and called "victims services". Surely if anybody could help me move forward it was they. Nope, nada, zilch. Apparently they feel I am not a victim. It isn't much, but I feel I've improved (psychologically, NOT physically) about 20% by consulting with a therapist who specializes PTSD. I still have nightmares and rage attacks, but they are a little less frequent, and of shorter duration. It's worth a try. Best wishes.
It happened to me, the worst thing. I had feared it and knew it went on but never thought it would happen to me. I had surgery in the morning for a fibroid removal and had prepared with one surgeon over 3 months so the op would be good. On the morning of the surgery i had my stockings put on and introduced to all the theatre team and after 3 hours i was awake and told by the surgeon everything had gone well. My surgeon told me all was intact and for a 35yr old with no kids, thats good news. However, he said he must leave me in the recovery room with the nurses because while i was in theatre the wards got busy with expectant mothers. At 12pm he came back, i was at that stage talking to nurses and he told me my parents had been rung and were on the way in. I was still groggy but able to hear and converse. Waiting waiting, then at 5pm an unknown lady comes opens the curtain and a pregnant indian lady follows after her. Im still talking to the nurse so the lady in the stilletos doesnt interupt or introduces herself. She just pulls down my blankets and starts banging on my abdomen, with perussion movements until i can feel pain and a black cloud fills my body and then she leaves as im crying stop stop. I ask the nurse who she is and she says shes just started her shift and is checking for coagulation. No no way im bleeding now i tell her and sure enough the bottles start filling with blood and i am suddenly in a state of emergency. She comes back, still not introducing herself and tells me im bleeding to death!! She tells me i need a hysterectomy and i say no, no, no. I have a blood transfusion and have no power to lift myself. At 6pm my parents arrive expecting a recovered daughter sitting up in bed and they are told if i dont sign the paper for a hysterectomy i will be dead soon. My Dad talks me in to signing and its all over as soon as i consent. I wake up in darkness to lifenessness and a massive scarfrom my belly button down. How ever am i going to get over this and im still thinking this every day. Im 42 now.
After giving birth, if they tried everything to make your uterus contract and nothing worked, then hysterectomy probably saved your life.
Uterine atony, when the uterus does not contract after childbirth, is often caused by the drug Pitocin. Most women in labor are unaware that they are being given Pitocin by IV to accelerate labor. If you are unsure if you were given Pitocin you can get your medical records from the hospital where you gave birth. All of the drugs that you were given will be listed in the medical records.
I had my uterus removed because Uterine Atony, the thing is that after they removed my uterus and closed me up they had to open me a 3rd time because I was still bleeding so they removed part of my cervix and that did the job. Was it necessary for me to have my uterus removed at age 30 after having my 1st baby?
to a woman,
just wanted to clarify that uterine artery embolization (UAE), is yet another destructive surgery that drs are selling to women. UAE involves occluding the uterine artery with embolic material to stop the blood flow to the fibroid. however, this is an IRREVERSIBLE procedure and there is no way to remove the embolic material if you experience any one of the horrific adverse effects (go to http://uterinearteryembolization.com/effects.html to learn more) the embolic material has even been known to become "loose" and migrate to other parts of the body causing damage to the organs and death.
don't be a test animal and don't wait for however many years of research and numbers of women to be damaged for the medical establishment to recant and say "oh, our bad, this was surgery that harmed women!"
don't be another drop in the bucket.
buyer beware.
To: anon. August 24,2010
One more thing-
I went organic, low sugar vegan for one year and that slowed the growth of the fibroid by 90%!Unfortunately it was too late for me. It"s challanging but worth a try. Be well!
To:ANON. AUGUST 24,2010
I am up all night thinking about you.I spend most of my time trying not to think about what has happened to me- sorry to be so dramatic even if it is justified.Hopefully the following will be more useful:
Have you looked into UAE(artery embolization to shrink the fibroid)? OR myomectomy (removal of just the fibroid)?There are also drugs that can help control symptoms.Finally (you don,t mention your age)menopause shrinks fibroids.
I had a friend who was told that she had a "large" fibroid of 2cm. Mine was18cm when it was removed-the size of a 5 month pregnancy (and I am a very small woman). How big is yours? Also, not all symptoms are attributable to fibroids.
In my case my doctor ignored patient consent and removed my cervix and cut me 'up and down"
against my will. It seems to me that women who have the uterus (only) removed by "bikini cut" do pretty well.
If you do end up in the OR please,please write on the consent form exactly what you are and are not consenting to, and sign it! Best of luck!!!!
To: Anonymous August 24, 2010
DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My story of trying to AVOID this surgery would curl your hair. I was TORTURED by the medical community for four years before I caved in and consented to a procedure that I neither needed or wanted, one that not only did not address my symptoms (later to be diagnosed as a partially paralyzed stomach), but left my with many debilitating and permanent problems.
I was assaulted on May 15,2006. Prior to this date, and for 46 years, I firmly believed in the Buddist tenants of lovingkindness and forgiving all.I am embaressed to admit that in 4 1/2 years I have not felt peace. Instead I struggle every day with rage and a lust for vengence.
I no longer wish "freedom from suffering for all sentient beings". I want these doctors to pay. I am destroyed.
Find a way. DO NOT LET WHAT HAPPENED TO ME HAPPEN TO YOU !!!
Anonymous,
I am supposed to have a hysterectomy next week, leaving my ovaries in. The reason, I have an enlarged uterus with fibroids. I also had a large pollup removed that was benign. I have extremely low progesterone as well. After reading everything, I don't know if I should go through with it. Everyone I know that has had one says they have never felt better. Some having had their surgery over 20 years ago. I just don't know what to do. If my uterus continues to get larger and larger,I will have no choice and it will be a much more intense surgery. HELP!
I had a condition called adenomyosis which was causing heavy and painful periods. Over the years, the pill would help for a few years but it laso caused me to become depressed. At the age of 47 I decided I was beyond child bearing years and decided to have a hysterectomy. I had tried herbs and acupuncture and a Mirena IUD. My doctor told me I had "tried everything." My doctor went over the consent form with me but at no time mentioned sexual side effects. When she finished telling me the risks, I specificially asked her if there were anything else and she said, "No." Now here I am post surgery with almost no sexual sensation left. Had I known this could happen I would have gone on the pill and dealt with the depression, maybe by trying an antidepressant. The depression from never enjoying sex again is one of the worst things I can imagine. I should have been given informed consent but was not. I am not litigious but a class action law suit is the only way I see to stop more women from being victimized.
Doctors make money on surgery. Please don't give up finding a lawyer to sue them. This is so important.
My name is Pam and I live in Arizona. False statements of facts: 1) Appt for fallen bladder turned into hysterectomy when surgeon lied to the insurance that I also had "vaginal vault prolapse." 2) He lied to the insurance about the type of incontinence I had. 3) He sold the hyst by telling me women "my age" get it alongside other procedures, making it sound harmless and routine, more lies. 4) When I asked, But don't the cervix and uterus factor into sexual functioning, he said NO, a lie. 5) I asked whether my insurance would pay for the hyst since I had no cancer and he said yes, a potential lie he worked around by claiming a nonexistent vaginal prolapse. 6) I asked about the hormone loss and he said I wasn't producing them anyway, at 53, and that HRT would work and it was covered by insurance, all lies. There were at least 12 lies by omission, the most significant of which is he didn't allow me to receive the standard of medical care where disease or abnormalities are precursors to organ removal.
Surgeon knew he lied: Prior gyn exam was sent to the surgeon and vaginal vault prolapse was not indicated, nor did it indicate abnormal uterine or ovarian conditions. He had no documented tests outside of his own that correlated with his findings both gynecologically or urologically.
Those lies induced me into consenting: I consented because I believed he wanted to help me. His final argument – that removal of the sex organs would make the bladder “easier to get to” during surgery and would also prevent future cancers – sealed it for me. He said the surgery could be done in 2 hrs but that he would take longer to ensure it was proper, which he typically does since he is "the one sought out to fix other surgeon's mistakes" (creating a godlike awe.)
Hysterectomy caused injury: I got out of the hospital and fell apart. I lost my job, went to 16 docs trying to find out why nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is as it used to be. Still have incontinence. Newly diagnosed with fiber neuropathy, cognitive deficits, spinal cyst, and more. I used to work 12-hour days but now I cannot retain info, carry out complex tasks, remember words or their spelling, or focus. Women with good insurance and bad information are being taken advantage of. My hyst/bladder suspension took 4 hours … a fact the surgeon was proud of. Four hours under anesthesia, 5 weeks on antibiotics, an unbelievable reaction to them, a nightmare healing experience, god-awful pain, hormones that don't work, getting fired, trying sex after three months and finding nothing works like before, going from doctor to doctor. What happened to my happy spirit, ability to work, and deep feelings for those I love?
Great Post…..
I found your site on stumbleupon and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you down the road!
Thanks for sharing….
Yes, I would love to be part of a class action lawsuit.
False statement of material fact was that my CA-125 was well within the normal range and my ultrasound showed no ascites. I was told this was 'unreliable'.
#2; Yes, they knew that it was false, after all they were the experts.
#3;When I signed the consent form I stated that they were to remove the tumor and affected ovary. If I indeed had cancer then they could do the hysterectomy. I did not have cancer (it was borderline, meaning non malignant atypia cells were found in a small area.)
#4; The loss of my physical, sexual, emotional health is terrible. I am loosing my teeth, including expensive cosmetic work, my hearing is shot, I've undergone carpal tunnel surgery 10 months after being victimized.
Now people think I'm crazy when I say that the hysterectomy destroyed my whole life. Other woman tell me that they never regretted having it done, I think they are crazy.
I've tried to be positive and think of something good that has come from all this and I can't think of one single thing.
Nora-
I believe a class action suit should be brought against ACOG or the AMA- clearly ACOG statements are stunning- denying on their web site that hysterectomy is all about money- However, I am not an attorney, and am surprised as I thought we had someone studying the issue and looking into bringing a suit.
So you wish that I should try to find an attorney for this class action suit?
molly
If so, I shall try.
Molly,
I'm not sure what you mean, "Where are we with this class action suit?" HERS has not taken any steps toward attempting a class action lawsuit, we only posed the question, in this blog post, "Would you take part in a class action lawsuit against doctors and "patient education" institutions that supplied the erroneous information used to induce you to sign a hysterectomy consent form?"
If your answer is yes, have you considered doing some research to see if there is a lawyer who has brought similar lawsuits? Who would you bring a class action against?
Nora-
Where are we with this class action suit? Also, I am wondering why NOW and other women's groups have not joined in in speaking out about this assault on women.
They take up all these smaller issues but not the major abuse of women in this country.
molly
I would like to participate in a class action suit but I'm not sure I meet the criteria. I 37 years old now but at the time of my hysterectomy I was 34. I was in a lot of pain an basically being passed back and forth between my gyn and gastro doctor to solve my problem. Finally my gyn doctor convinced me that I had a pelvic congestion disorder where the veins in my uterus were filling up with blood and this was causing the pain. He desperately seemed to want to end my agony because I was on various pain meds. I had already had an ovary removed when I was 23 years old by another doctor because of a cyst that had grew and twisted and had also caused me pain. He told me that hopefully this would solve all my problems. I agreed because I had been suffering for 6 months, losing time off from work, on pain meds etc… and I thought he knew what he was talking about. Prior to coming to him I had saw another gyn who wanted to perform a hysterectomy also so I thought it was probably the right thing to do. When I changed my primary physician who happens to be a woman why I had a hysterectomy the look on her face spoke volumes. Needless to say the pain returned after a few weeks. He acted stunned and made excuses telling me that he didn't promise me that it would be a solution. He started having other doctors exam me when I came in for pain which I think were students. When I told him it was affecting my sex life with my husband he didn't have a solution except pain management. I solved my own problem by going to an allergist and finding out the pain I was getting was from spasms from a wheat allergy. Now I will never be able to give my husband a son because I listened to what my doctor claimed was the best treatment for a "phantom problem."
I just want to post to tell Nora and Rick that I am so amazed at your dedication. I have been on a crusade to help women since my own unnecessary surgery. I can honestly say that I am beyond frustration. I have talked to, shown the video to, given The H Word to, argued with and used my experience as an example to numerous women. Only one listened and refused the surgery. I just don't get it. Are the women who say it was the best thing they have ever done really telling the truth? I mean why would they lie about such a thing? My ex sister in law not only said the best, she said the best, best, best, best, best thing……..
I am thinking perhaps it is is true that people will believe what they WANT to believe, truth be damned. I read an article about internet surfing stating just that. People will search the internet and feel satisfied when they find the info they WANT to hear. To justify their actions. It saddens me.
By the way there was a new study done and it has been found that the appendix is actually a very useful organ contrary to former beliefs. IMAGINE! Use to be appendectomy was one of those right of passage things. Like a hysterectomy is now. Appendectomy and tonsillectomy were big money makers. Their popularity waned and suddenly a study is done showing just how useful the parts are.
But lets keep on yanking out those useless ovaries and uteri!! Maybe, if ever, a hysterectomy becomes a rare surgery, a study will be conducted. A MEDICAL ( seems to be the key word here as we women do not understand our own bodies ) study. Then and only then will people believe. I don't know how many times I have heard,"There is no MEDICAL proof of complications resulting from this surgery."
I am sure there are no MEDICAL complications after removing a mans testicles and penis either.
You are wonderful people. Keep it up.
To the person who would love to find an attorney, what state are you in?
Dear, "I would love to find an attorney that really cares about women and what they have gone through"
Your story of unnecessary hysterectomy/castration is heart breaking.
I hope you "Name That Doctor and Hospital" on the Hers blog, when you are able to. I hope you would also take part in a "class action" lawsuit on this "Fraud and Hysterectomy" post.
I am so very sorry for your pain and suffering. It is an American atrocity that women are being tortured and physically biologically attacked by gynecologists legally every minute of every day in America.
Your story of unnecessary hysterectomy/castration sounds like a physical "torture", how are you surviving all of these unnecessary gynecological surgeries?
Have you read the definition of…Hysterectomy…on Wikipedia. It is on the first page when you type in hysterectomy now.
Here is an excerpt under…Risks and Side Effects…on Wikipedia.
"Removal of the uterus without removing the ovaries can produce a situation that on rare occasions can result in ectopic pregnancy due to an undetected fertilization that had yet to descend into the uterus before surgery. Two cases have been identified and profiled in an issue of the Blackwell Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology; over 20 other cases have been discussed in additional medical literature.[30]"
Now how unethical does this "worst crime in history" have to get before it is "headline news". I would think to the attorney's considering filing a "class action" lawsuit, this would be a very important fact. Profiled in an issue of the "Blackwell Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology" stating that a woman can still become "pregnant" after hysterectomy. But your unborn child would die without a uterus. What this is saying is that we were not warned that we could still have an "ectopic pregnancy" after hysterectomy. Are there any attorney's out there in the U.S. who think this is "class action" in action.
I would love to find an attorney that really cares about women and what they have gone through. I had a hysterectomy May of 08. I was told that I had fibroids on the outside of my uterus. I was given the choice the regarding whether to have my ovaries removed or not. I was told that most women that dont have it done, if they dont go into menapause on their own within 5 yrs, that the majority of them return to surgery to have their ovaries removed. I chose to go ahead and have them removed. However, I never dreamed that I would have to under go 4 more surgeries. Three weeks after the original surgery, I started bleeding heavily and they went back in to fix an area that was not closed. Then 3 weeks later I went back in again to have surgery again for the same thing. Then, I continued to hurt and I saw several doctors and I kept telling them I felt something was wrong. I was leaking the peritineum fluid (however you spell it). The doctors went back in again and had to repair a hole in my bowel. After that surgery, I continued to hurt and I thought I would look for other doctors outside of that hospital to see if I could get some help. The doctors that I started seeing looked at the copies of my CT Scans and all my repaorts and we found that gauze was left in inside me during the first surgery. I guess when they went back in during the second surgery, they removed it but never bothered to tell me. In April of this year, I had to go in to have the adhesions removed because they were so bad, and I found out that when the doctor closed me up, she closed me up inside crooked. I love with pain every day of my life. My husband and my children have suffered. Every attorney I talk with tells me that these types of cases take along time in court, sometimes 4, 5 or 6 years and it is not worth their time. I feel that is very very wrong. Doctors need to be held responsible for their actions just like anyone else has to if they do something wrong. I am stuck with thousands of dollars worth of hospital and doctor bills and I lost my job. It looks like I have to have another surgery so that they can try to straighten everything back up, if possible. This is not right that I have had to go through this.
To: "It's the worst mass crime ever committed on earth."
I agree, mass American female unnecessary sex organ amputation by medical deceit for profit (hysterectomy) and mass medically unnecessary female castration (oophorectomy) are "the worst mass crime ever committed on earth".
The mass medically unnecessary de-sexing of the American female by gynecological medical deceit (legalized medical impossibilities) is, however, legal. Which in fact does not make it a recognized "crime" in America.
How, in your opinion, can law enforcement be alerted and informed about this legal atrocity and mass "silent medical crime" in America?
Yes Tatyana, it is a total nightmare, but doctors keep doing it to women and lying to them and law enforcement looks the other way. It's the worst mass crime ever committed on earth.
My name is Tatyana Huss.I had a hysterectomy in 2005 and than my life changed for bad.I just can't have intercourse anymore with my husband.It was vagina hysterectomy and as i think was too much cutting.Also i had a pelvic repair.I feel pain when it goes to sex and everything is very tight.I want to cry because of pain during intercourse.So I feel like an invalid in just my 49 years old.I just can't have sex anymore.When i said this to my doctor he said that i have practice.But i practice already few years without results.This is worsest things what woman could have,isn't?
Regarding "law enforcement" looking the other way – I don't know of any state's medical board that has disciplined a doctor for conning women into having organs removed.
My complaint with the Missouri Board of "Healing Arts" was a joke. My doctor didn't even follow the oncologist's recommendation to only remove the diseased ovary. The medical board only interviewed the ob/gyn. They did not interview the oncologist and they did not interview me except to ask me some questions over the phone that were already answered in my complaint.
Doctors enable doctors! And in my case, there appeared to be collusion between the ob/gyn and the oncologist. The oncologist was not upfront with me about treatment and there were significant errors in his records including that my sister had ovarian cancer. She did not.
So the Missouri Board of Healing Arts is just as unethical as the scumbag doctors but that makes sense since the board is made up of doctors!
In every other industry, the state's Attorney General is responsible for warning their citizens about scams and prosecuting the perpetrators. I attempted twice to file a complaint against the ob/gyn's practice but was told to file with the medical board.
Law enforcement is looking the other way and the M.D.'s know it. Without enforcement, there is no law. Without law, there is no crime.
Regarding FACEBOOK: you can tell your friend that stumbled onto a facebook site about hysterectomy, because HERS is on facebook too. Just tell her to search "Hysterectomy Information," that's how I found it. I'm surprised more women haven't found it. Or you can tell her stumbled onto the HERS website for that matter, but I hope you find some way to help her.
Say to the woman who is in the planning stage of having a hysterectomy: Look up the HERS Foundation on the web. Watch the free "Female Anatomy" video on the HERS Foundation web site. A hysterectomy "will" cause you to never experience a uterine orgasm again, medical fact. Read the long list of "after effects" on HERS web site. It is legal for your ob/gyn to omit the medical facts on your hysterectomy consent form.
To Anonymous,
Regarding your Facebook friend scheduled for a hyst – I totally understand your shame and embarrassment. I feel the same way but I was able to put that aside in order to try to stop a co-worker from this horror. Sadly, she trusted her doctor and proceeded with the surgery.
Do you have an email address for your friend? You could send an email using an anonymous email address. Or, you could post on Facebook that you know someone (e.g. a coworker) that had the surgery and list the problems she's now having as a result.
Please try to find a way to prevent her from this horror.
How's this for a dilemma?….
I just saw on Facebook that one of my friends from high school is having a total hysterectomy in two weeks. Why? Her doctor told her it might help with her fibromyalgia. I've never heard that one before. The problem? I am too ashamed to tell ANYONE….even a friend….that I have had this surgery and about the implications. I am ashamed that I was duped into having an operation that was totally unwarranted. I feel like I am just sitting by and letting a lamb be led to slaughter, but I totally feel helpless…..I hope someone much braver than I am gets to her before she goes under….
In December, a Louisiana cardiologist was convicted of health care fraud for billing government and private insurers for medically unnecessary heart procedures involving 75 patients. In June he was sentenced to the maximum 10 years. (He was granted bail on July 2 pending his appeal.)
Two Lafayette hospitals settled suits totaling $13.1M with former patients of the cardiologist and the Department of Justice.
The U.S. Attorney said that he hopes "the conviction and subsequent sentence sends a message to those who would put their patients at risk for monetary gain and fraud."
How is this different from all the unnecessary hysterectomies? If anything, it's worse since hysterectomies are damaging.
I filed a complaint against my doctor's practice with my state's Attorney General but of course they just referred me to the useless Medical Board.
Could this case be a precedent for more hysterectomy lawsuits? I sure hope so!!
HI im a member of WAS a group on yahoo(women against stirrups)and we are all against the same medical procedures and surgeries, ive posted a link to your site on the group im sure the information on here will help a lot of women and help educate and spread the word, i hope some of yous will join and share your information so we can all band together and fight this butchery of women.
I am going to go out on a limb here and not hide behind anonimity. My name is Holli. And I am offended that one poster angrily referred to us as IDIOTS for letting our doctors perform surgery on us. You, my dear, are missing the point. We DID trust our doctors when they told us things will be better, this is necessary, this is your only option, I will only do it if 100% necessary. Your underestimation of our intelligence is sorely misplaced. I cannot speak for the others, but I am a graduate student, working on 2 masters degrees. I have more common sense than most people. I have no doubt that the other women on this site are equally as intelligent. Again, the point is, we DID trust our doctors, only to find out that we had been misled AFTER it was too late to do anything about it. I am amazed at how many women have posted that their doctors, who convinced them that they were working in their best interest, also brushed them off after surgery when they expressed concern. How DARE a patient complain about anything that a doctor has done? It is that attitude that leads too many of us like lambs to the slaughter.
I am guessing that you are also that angry RN who thinks that her surgery was the best thing ever. Good for you. My grandmother had uterine cancer and hysterectomy was her only option (although the cancer had already spread and she died anyway). But if you will read the statistics, even on websites like Med Help, you will see that over 1/2 of these surgeries are performed for benign conditions.
As someone who studies trauma patients, I am guessing that your anger is not really at those of us who are brave enough (even if under an anonymous name) to speak out against the medical community who performs these surgeries in error, but rather as an attempt to deflect your true feelings about what has been done to you. Maybe not. I DO hope that you are one of the very few who has reaped benefits from the surgery. (as a sex therapist though…don't tell me that your sex life is better…unless you are trying to tell me that you never experienced uterine orgasm or cervical stimulation…then I guess you wouldn't know).
To all of you other ladies, kudos to you for not being afraid to confront your doctor about what has been done to you and to share your experiences with others. I can't say that it helps tons for me, but at least I know that I am not alone. If for no other reason, I know that when my own doctor brushes off my concerns, the problem does not lie within me.
It would be almost as traumatizing to wake up from a surgery to learn that your leg had been amputated unnecessarily. But unfortunately it would not be as traumatizing as a man having his prostate gland, his testicles and a portion of his penis amputated unnecessarily. How well would a man function physically and sexually after this was done to him?.
A male sex organ amputation and castration are comparatively exactly what "Gynecologists" are legally medically touting to woman as "treatment" for benign female sex/reproductive organ conditions. Not only touting the barbaric gynecological information but saying women will "feel better than ever" after sex organ amputation. Sad isn't it!, this is down right embarrassing for the medical industry at this point. The medical industry doesn't have a medical leg to stand on and sound ridiculous with touting sex organ amputation and castration for benign female organ conditions. Women have "Balls" too, they are called "Ovaries". The legal medical definition of "Oophorectomy" is castration and "Hysterectomy" is female sex organ amputation.
Bibi…Let us know how the "expensive hormone treatment" makes you feel physically and sexually! The cream hormones you are trying now are very expensive, I hope it helps you too. I can relate, I saw over a dozen medical doctors and tried over two dozen combinations of pharmaceuticals within two years post hysterectomy in "mind bending" pain, too…and nothing pharmaceutical worked. This is just another insult to a woman after a doctor legally physically attacks her with legally false gynecological information. Isn't the lack of a normal vaginal discharge and sexual desire after hysterectomy just inhumane and gross? Gynecologists sure don't give women this information either. One of the Gynecologists, paid by me and my insurance, POST unnecessary sex organ amputation attack "hysterectomy", said to me quote: "no more vaginal discharge!, well no more bubble bath's for you!".
I had to post this as I just rubbed on a 'compounding lotion' prescribed to me by my PCP. It is a combination of HRT's, and I just started using this. I will see if it does help, and hope so. It got me thinking; however, as I put this on. I had to pay $28.00 to get a two week supply. The insurance I have will not cover it. I would not have asked to try this; if not been for my Hyst., and just begging to try anything for help to make me feel better. My point being: I am now suffering another cost due to my Hyst., and will I have to pay $28.00 every two weeks for the rest of my life? I was not in menopause state before my Hyst., and truly; I could have had another child, if my husband and I decided to. What a money making fraud and so many come out ahead with this; except, the women, men (who are the husbands/significant others), children, and other loved ones, who pay dearly – being it monetarily, physically, and emotionally. Get ready, after a Hyst. to pay, and pay, and pay… How fraudulent is this that GYNs, hospitals, insurance companies do not include this in their 'Informed Consents'?
Isn't it interesting how so many of us share the same stories? As one example and the last blog here… this woman's doctor said, that she had never had any other patients have any problems. I heard this same thing from my GYN after I complained with severe problems after my Hyst., and how interesting; so many of us, state these same verbal statements from our GYNs. This is the "tip of the iceberg", as one other also posted.
I continue to get this anger built up in me, when I read these posts. How so many others have been deceived, talked into having an unnecessary Hyst., and we are only guilty of having 'FAITH' and 'TRUST' in the doctors who did mutilate us, and physically, emotionally altered our lives. The emotional part is that there is no way of going back and correcting this castration. This is not like a leg break, and correcting a fracture. It would be as a doctor amputating a leg when not necessary, but a doctor cannot put a leg back on a patient. How awful, as so many women posting have said too; they woke up without the knowledge they would have organs removed. How would one feel thinking a doctor was doing a surgery to treat a fracture, and wake up with a leg gone/amputated, and unaware, and found out it was not necessary?
Pretty sick similie, I know, but a patient stands a better chance of sueing for a leg removed than her vital and necessary female organs removed when unnecessary. How sick is this?
First off…to angry RN….Your experience was obviously different than the other women who post here.
Short of seeing her head on a pole, I would love to take place in a law suit. (I think RN should keep reading here.)
I went to see my dr. about ABLATION. I told her that I had been diagnosed with a uterine anomoly and she said that ablation would probably not work. However, after an exam, she could find no evidence of the anomoly, so had an ultrasound performed. She contended that hysterectomy would still be my best option.
The day of surgery, I literally had a come apart when the nurse brought the consent form to my room. I was getting ready to walk out when the dr. called me from the OR and told me to wait. In the meantime, the nurse gave me a Xanax. The next thing I remember I was waking up after surgery. I don't remember talking to an anesthesiologist. Incidentally, the dr. wouldn't let me make a decision about surgery when I was in her office a couple of weeks earlier because I had taken, you guessed it, a Xanax before a biopsy.
After the surgery, when I told the dr. that I wished I hadn't had surgery her words, and I quote, "Oh well, hind sight is 20/20". After surgery, she came out and showed my husband a picture of my healthy uterus. Incidentally, I am doctor's wife. To say that his decline in protecting me has had a very negative affect on our marriage. If it weren't for the kids, you can bet your sweet ass I would be gone. This same doctor tells me that I am the only woman who has EVER complained after surgery. She has been practicing for about 10 years. Do you believe her? I sure don't.
With all the advances in forensic science, it's difficult for murders and rapists to get away with it now. The only segment of society that is immune from the advances in criminal detection are doctors and hospitals. I even had a doctor brag to me about how they could drug their patients into oblivion, but if someone did the same thing out on the street, it would be against the law. There is no one to police the unnecessary hysterectomy and castration of U.S. women, and if an honest doctor speaks out, he's blackballed.
P.S. Thanks to the doctor's wife for posting. Just confirms that no one is safe from these doctors and anesthesiologists. If they put women under without their knowledge, who is going to tell on them?
This blog is a testament to the saying that "truth is often stranger than fiction".
On True TV, the show Forensic Files told this story about a doctor: A renowned and respected doctor was convicted of drawing HIV positive blood from one of his patients and injecting the virus into his ex-girlfriend because she was ending the relationship. The woman who was a nurse, went to the police and told them that she believed that this doctor did it, but the police thought the story was too unbelievable. Even so, they investigated it and found that in fact the doctor not only injected this woman with the HIV virus, but also injected her with Hepatitis C.
To the angry RN, I'm sure you've never seen that happen in all your years of practice either.
To say that doctors will lose their medical licenses because they perform unnecessary hysterectomies is laughable. The medical board is the same as the "fox guarding the hen house". In civil suits, doctors and hospitals rarely lose. The jury almost always finds for the doctor. The victim patient has little or no chance, and these so-called doctors know it. That is why they are so brazen to lie and deceive a woman to lure her into a surgery room. They know that no one will believe her, and no one can touch them. When anesthesiologists put women under without their knowledge or informed consent, they also know that no one will believe the woman, and all the hospital staff will lie to protect their jobs.
Angry Nurse said, "If your doctor told you to shoot yourself, would you?".
(Go ahead Angry Nurse, continue to blame women for "legalized false gynecological information"!. If the Predator Gynecologist needed the money and sick sociopath satisfaction of de-sexing me by "legalized gynecological medical deceit" and I had to choose now, knowing what I know!….I would never have agreed to the life altering surgery the Predator Gynecologist gave me. I would rather be "shot and killed" than choose to live this way, permanently physically and sexually maimed by legalized gynecological deceit for profit.
The Predator Gynecologist was pretending to be a cancer specialist, he isn't!, and "acted" very "doctor like", convincingly. The Predator Gynecologist gave me "legally false gynecological medical information", very professionally and with practiced deceitful precision, before. The Predator Gynecologist knew what he was doing, he was legally gynecologicaly medically deceiving me, and he did. Sex organ amputation/female castration is a heinous life altering surgery, cruel and inhumane, for benign conditions, like mine.)
Angry RN said: "That statement about being "put under without your knowledge" is completely ignorant!!"
(But unfortunately, very true. I asked for more information. The anesthesiologist said he was going to give me something to "calm me down" to discuss my options. That is when he "knocked me out behind my back" by inserting the anesthesia, instead. These are sick lying medical doctors, who realized I was "on to them", in the pre-op room..thanks to the RN. I tried to flee, but they attacked me and knocked me out behind my back. The "nurse" was saying "I can't do this", "I can't do this" as the Gynecologist and the Anesthesiologist pushed her out of the room into the hallway. The nurse was crying…very true!. This W&B Hospital nurse knows who she is and I hope she speaks up on this blog soon! In fact, I ask her now, to speak up and tell everyone in the world what they did to me. W&B Hospital Nurse: You were there, you saw what they did and how they lied, please step forward and confirm the attack on me by the Gynecologist and the Anesthesiologist in Lancaster, PA.)
On the subject of the proof that doctors perform unnecessary hysterectomies, in Nora and Rick's book THE H WORD they discuss how hysterectomy rates very wildly county to county, let alone state to state, and region to region, and even by the color of your skin. If all hysterectomies were necessary, wouldn't the incidence of hysterectomies be evenly distributed?
To anyone who thinks that doctors do not perform unnecessary hysterectomies, all they have to do is read the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan "BCBSM Foundation Highlights" mailer from Fall 2006.
It states:
PPOs seek to increase their share of the insurance market by demonstrating they can achieve more Focus on Value appropriate levels of utilization and lower costs than traditional fee-for-service plans. Little was known about the degree to which PPO cost savings are attributable primarily to a PPO’s ability to negotiate price reductions for procedures, or to their ability to reduce utilization by preventing unnecessary procedures. Study results show PPOs reduced unnecessary hysterectomies, resulting in utilization rates that are about 12 percent lower than fee-for-service plans. Study results were published in the January/February 2006 issue of Nursing Economics.
Not only does BCBSM know they are paying for unnecessary hysterectomies, but they refer to a study on it. It appears that the angry RN didn't read that issue of Nursing Economics.
I just read the last post by an "Anonymous". I do hope your dear mother shares on this post her experiences, and how she feels. We should highly respect her. I am so anxiously hoping she will, as I said, share here.
To Anonymous who worked in OR and recovery.
My mother was an OR nurse for 30+ years. She has been around the block and back with surgeons and hospitals and head nurses. She had to carry malpractice insurance. My mother was an EXCELLENT and WELL RESPECTED nurse. She was asked to head a new cardiology ward for open heart surgery. My mother is my hero.
Until I got my mother, now 83, to read the book The H Word, she would not say a bad thing about ANY surgeon. She is, now, writing her 'memories' down. She wants me to know. She has seen the suffering I have, and am, going through. She will not talk about it but she is also, finally, letting her feelings out about her own TAH.
Please, be real to yourself and the rest of us out here. Don't wait until you are 83. Don't wait to tell your daughters and friends. Help women everywhere understand that we all need INFORMED CONSENT.
Please see my new post on the HERS Honored forum.
I do have a concern as to why women who are unable to articulate otherwise, seem to say, 'It was the best thing I have ever done'. Those words EXACTLY. Like parrots. I remember my OB/GYN telling me women thank him and tell him it is the best thing they have ever done. He told me this when I was in his office pre hyster. He repeated it many times. The best thing they have ever done. Coincidence?? Brain wash??
If Anon., the RN, who posted, is the same as Anon. stating women are "Idiots"; you raise a major concern. You, being a RN, should never call a patient an idiot, and your credibility and caliber with any of your statements took a deep dive. I would like to know why my GYN who I trusted in/had faith in tried to push to not only remove my uterus, but also good ovaries, appendix, and a birthmark on my labia when it was for two small fibroids, and said "I had to have a Hyst., and right away. You can't afford to have one more period due to heavy bleeding, and while I am in there, might as well take your appendix. You don't need it." The point still here is I had faith in him, and only realized afterwards, he was racking up some added amounts due to my great insurance, which may have changed after the first of the year.
Why did he not give me options; however, and also make me aware of what women can suffer with as complications with after a Hyst., and if anyone can answer this, I am all ears; but, if we cannot have TRUST in doctors we see, this is scary, in itself.
P.S. I had only heard, at the time, of something called a Myectomy. I had no idea what that was, but I asked him. He got angry that I had it suggested to me by someone online. "This person has never seen or examined you.", he said. There we go with faith in doctors. But we are not "idiots"; for hoping what a doctor says is to be true. Shall we all just go and get second, third, and fourth opinions for everything? That would benefit, in dollar amounts, a lot of people – except the patient, (in dollar amounts). Call us ones with "Faith" believing in our care givers, but do not call us "Idiots".
Part II to Anonymous RN,
Although you proclaim loudly by all caps for shouting, that you have no problems since your female organs were removed, it is revealing that you find that sex is better because you and your husband don't have to worry about pregnancy. Women who experienced uterine orgasm do not feel that their sex life was improved by never being able to experience the intense pleasure of uterine orgasm. Nor do they feel that their sexual experience, with or without a partner, is improved by their vagina being shortened during a hysterectomy, suture shut at the top.
Do you also feel that women who have a three times great incidence of cardiovascular disease when their uterus is removed and a seven times greater incidence when they are castrated have improved lives?
But I believe there are two primary issues here. One is, women are not given the information that doctors are professionally, legally, ethically, and morally responsible to provide about the adverse effects of the surgery. And second, that physicians have a responsiblity to First Do No Harm. That have a blatant disregard for both.
The remainder of your blaming women for being abused by doctors is out of touch with reality. Women ask good questions, but they are lied to. They get many opinions, and are lied to by many. They are bullied into surgery with the cancer scare, even though the doctor knows full well they don't have any signs of cancer. Even though doctors assure women they won't take out their uterus or ovaries unless they definitely have cancer, what they actually do is a bait and switch. I've read thousands of medical reports includng Surgical Reports, Pathology Reports, doctors and nurses notes, and there is no question that there is fraud in the inducement.
For someone who proclaims that they are happy with the outcome of having their female organs removed, you are enormously angry, and have chosen to direct your anger at women who are open, honest, and straightforward about what was done to them. You attempt to blame them, much in the way the some people blame victims of rape. "She shouldn't have worn a sexy dress", "She was flirting", "She didn't even do the research and get a background check before going out with him to see if he had been convicted of rape", "She should have known he was going to slip a drug in her drink when she went to the restroom, it's her fault for needing to use the bathroom". You make paralell arguments in defense of doctors who have hysterectomized and castrated women with blatant disregard for their health and welfare. Rapists, domestic violence abusers, and gynecolgists who remove the female organs without the information required for informed consent have a lot in common.
Part I, to Annonymous RN,
���You belong to the second largest group of hysterectomized women. The first is doctor's wives. The second is nurses. The angriest women HERS counsel are hysterecotmized doctor's wives and hysterectomized nurses. Doctor's wives feel betrayed by a spouse who didn't tell them the damaging effects of the surgery. And nurses feel betrayed by their colleagues and their profession.
One would think that a woman who feels so strongly that she knew everything she needed to know before deciding to have a hysterectomy (and castration?), who feels that sex is better than ever, and who thinks the doctor who removed her female organs fully informed her of the adverse effects of the surgery, would be happily leading her life. Instead, you and a few other women who proclaim loudly that they are FINE and their sex life is FINE, continue to search for information about the effects of hysterectomy.
Someone trained as an RN, who worked in the medical field for 15 years, who had the consult of several doctors she worked with, who had access to research and the vocabulary and medical training to understand it, who worked for eight years in an operating room and recovery room would think that everyone should have the information that she has. Most women who undergo hysterectomy do not have a medical education, they have not worked in a medical setting, and the majority have never had surgery of any kind. The majority of women who undergo hysterectomy agreed only to a diagnostic procedure such as an exploratory laparoscopy. They made it clear to the gynecologist that they did not want any of their female organs removed. However, the consent form almost always says "Exploratory laparoscopy and possible TAH, BSO". When women ask what that means they're usually told "Oh that's hsyterectomy, but the doctors not going to do that, she told you she's just going to do an exploratory, but that has to be on the consent form. Don't worry, she's not going to do a hysterectomy". Still wary about this caveat on the consent form, women sign lest they appear to be suspicious of mistrustful of the doctor who is about to cut them open. The consent form may be presented a day or two before the surgery, but more commonly it's given to women who have been sedated just before surgery. And women are not given the information about the consequences of the surgery that is requisite to consent. Without that information the surgery is unconsented. The information must be provided for consent to be valid. You should be able to not have had the benefit of formal education and to not speak the language and not be abused by a doctor.
Women are abused by doctors they've known for years, often the doctor that delivered their children, someone they truly trusted. Idiocy is blaming women for the abusive and unethical behavior of a doctor.
Why would all of you IDIOTS continue to see a doctor you obviously didn't trust, let alone let them schedule you for surgery and then let them perform it!! How STUPID can you be!!
I completely disagree with the article and the subsequent comments. I am a 38 year old woman. I have 3 great boys and I have been an RN for 15 years. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer after my third son was born. My OB-GYN discussed all of my options, however, after 15 years in the medical field, many conversations with doc's I work with, and much research, I determined the only complete cure was a hysterectomy. I had surgery 8 weeks after my youngest son was born and 8years later, I still feel it was the right decision. I have had NO problems and sex is better then ever since my husband and I don't have to worry about pregnancy.
After having worked with doctor's and knowing many of them personally, I do not believe that any of them would perform a hysterectomy without a patients consent. They would face a lawsuit and loss of their license!! As for the person who said they were put under anesthesia without their knowledge, I say BS!! You obviously were in a surgery center or hospital, and I am certain that anesthesia spoke to you prior to surgery (I worked in the Operating room and recovery room for 8 years and know how things are done!. You have to sign a different consent for anesthesia and I have NEVER seen an Anesthesiologist put anyone to sleep (except perhaps a trauma patient who couldn't speak)without first speaking to them about their medical history and ensuring their consent is signed. That statement about being "put under without your knowledge" is completely ignorant!! If you didn't want surgery then WHY did go to the hospital or surgery center?? Take responsibility for your own health!! If you didn't agree with your doctors advice THEN GET A SECOND OPINION!! Do some research and speak to the doctor about options!! I am so sick of people like you blaming doctors and not taking any responsibility yourself!! If your doctor told you to shoot yourself, would you? I am guessing your answer is "no", then why do you leave your decisions in the doctors hands instead of speaking up, getting another opinion, or just not showing up for surgery??? If you knew that there was potential for a hysterctomy and you didn't want one then why didn't you speak up?? If the doctor truly would not give you a straight answer about the reason for needing one then why would you continue to see him, listen to him, and let him perform surgery of any kind on you?? As far as I am concerned you need to share equally, if not more, in the responsibility for your hysterectomy!! Doctor's are not GODS, they don't have all of the answers, which is why it is called the "practice of medicine", and they can learn from their patient's!!
Your surgery may have been necessary, but the majority are NOT… Too many greedy gynaecologists fabricate disease where NONE exists to frighten women into unnecessary radical hysterectomies for personal gain and have been doing so for decades.. In 1945 at a gynaecological convention, a speaker got up and said: “Hysterectomy is mainly a racket done for dubious reasons at best, and non-existent reasons at worst.” Over 70 years later with the more gynaecologists it is more rampant than ever…
Not sure where to post this or if it even belongs on this site but a friend, a male friend of mine, told me of a program where the US Department of Health, Education and Welfare was a major financial contributor. In 1930 through the 1970’s or so it is estimated that 1/3 of all Puerto Rician women were sterilized. It was so common it was called La Operacion. Most women were under the impression it was temporary birth control and when they were ready to conceive there was a simple procedure to reverse it. Talk about fraud!! And our government funded it! Kind of makes a person wonder as to all the unnecessary hysterectomies. I hear there is a film out about this.
RE: med help post:
Please email HERS at hersfdn@earthlink a link to Med Help. We’ll respond to this man’s query. Good job! Thank for caring to get this man some help.
Sorry!
That would be on their Hysterectomy forum
Can someone please get on Med Help and respond to a man, ‘draindoc’?? He had posted there before as his wife ended up in ICU after a Novasure procedure. He was VERY angry and they deleted his posts. He just posted again today asking if you can die from this surgery.
I am banned from Med Help.
A possible reason insurance companies pay for unnecessary hysterectomy: Women can no longer have children so the insurance company saves the expense of child birth for the rest of the woman’s life. They also save the expense of caring for the child or children. When 1/3 of the women in the U.S. have been hysterectomized, imagine the savings? It must be a HUGE amount of money that they get to keep stopping so many women from having babies because the premiums are the same whether a woman is hysterectomized or not. One-third of the women in the U.S. is a huge number, and add 1-3 children they don’t have pay for each. Population control for profit?
The term “donate” is used because it’s illegal to buy or sell human body parts, and a human egg is considered a body part. Since women aren’t “selling” their ovarian eggs but are “donating” them, the donor women are “compensated” for the risks, etc., the woman has endured for ovarian “egg donation”.
How convenient for the fertility specialists and gynecologists that most women “egg donors” remain anonymous. The infertile woman needing a human “egg” then pays the infertility specialists large sums of money to have the “donated egg” fertilized with male sperm implanted into her body. The sperm can be “donated sperm” or sperm used by a specific “sperm donor”.
What about the couples who are willing to pay $50,000.00 for a “donated egg” with specific requests for body type, IQ, hair and eye color.?
In U.S hospitals patients receiving major surgery are sometimes “verbally” asked if they will “donate” any of their surgically removed “body tissue” to “research”.
On removal of body parts for profit- since I learned after my hysterectomy that my healthy cervix was coninized for absolutely no reason and that this information was withheld from me, I had been wondering if this perfectly healthy tissue had been sold for profit to a laboratory or to other parties for profit.
Kate
…continued
“We should know in six months to a year,” he said.
The main concern was whether the tissue had been properly frozen to allow the follicles which contain the eggs to survive in sufficient numbers to ensure fertility.
Ovary transplants have been attempted since the beginning of the century, but have hit complications.
In Ms Lloyd-Hart’s case the ovary tissue comes from her own body so there is no danger of rejection.
However, Dr John Toy of the Cancer Research Campaign said eggs and sperm which had been frozen are not as viable as fresh ones.
And ovaries are more complex than eggs. Moreover, some young women with cancer were only temporarily affected by chemotherapy, with their ovaries eventually coming back to life.
For older women, the early menopause caused by chemotherapy might help reduce the possibility of cancers like breast cancer returning.
But for younger women he said the US operation was “a very interesting development”.
Professor Gosden said that, if successful, the reimplantation operation could help women who were being treated with chemotherapy for cancer and other conditions, such as blood diseases.
It could also help women with other gynaecological conditions such as endemetriosis, some young women with a family history of early menopause and, more controversially, for women who wanted to delay pregnancy.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has set up a working group to look at the ethical and technical implications of freeze banking testicular and ovarian tissue.”
Ovary tissue transplantation has been done.
A woman wants biological children in the future and the gynecologist has taken every legal right away from the woman by deceit for a benign medical condition, proven by her medical records. The woman could have had her ovary tissue frozen right? But that would have sounded the alarm bell and the woman may have learned the truth about what the doctor was really doing to her, harming her!
Anything sound legal here?
BBC NEWS: 1999
“A 29-year-old US woman has had her ovarian tissue removed and reimplanted in what is claimed to be the first operation in the world of its kind.
If successful, the surgery could help thousands of women whose fertility is threatened by chemotherapy.
Magaret Lloyd-Hart of Arizona had one ovary removed at the age of 17 after she developed a cyst.
The second was taken out and frozen last year before she underwent an operation for an unspecified benign medical condition.
Ms Lloyd-Hart later regretted the decision to have her ovary removed, but fortunately had had the tissue frozen.
Internet
Using the Internet, she managed to find out information about her condition.
She also discovered that sheep and mice that had had ovarian tissue removed and frozen had had their reproductive functions restored at a later date.
Finally, she tracked down Dr Kutluk Oktay at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn.
He agreed to reimplant her ovarian tissue after the two had exchanged letters for 10 weeks.
Ms Lloyd-Hart flew to New York with 72 vials of ovarian tissue in the seat beside her.
Doctors only used 60 vials in the operation which took place last week and is claimed to be a world first by the hospital.
The remainder of the tissue is being saved in case it is not successful or Ms Lloyd-Hart needs further grafts in the future.
Experiments on sheep
Dr Oktay, director of reproductive endocrinology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the hospital, said the operation had a 40-50% chance of a good result.
He stated that the best marker of success would be if Ms Lloyd-Hart began to have normal monthly periods.
This had occurred in experiments on sheep.
Ms Lloyd-Hart said her main concern was to get her endocrine system working properly.
She added that her “whole body was in shock” after her second ovary was removed.
The removal of ovaries leads to early menopause.
Ms Lloyd-Hart said she had tried hormone replacement therapy to offset some of the symptoms of early menopause, but it had not worked well.
“It does not do the job as well as your own body does,” she said.
Experimental
Dr Oktay is a former research fellow of Professor Roger Gosden of Leeds Royal Infirmary.
Professor Gosden says he believes the operation, which he calls “experimental”, is the first of its kind to reimplant frozen ovarian tissue.
But he says it is too early to know whether it will be successful.
…continued
At least one uterus transplant has been done. I read that the transplanted uterus stays in place until after childbirth and then is removed to prevent the need for lifetime anti-rejection drugs. This was discussed on the Dr. Phil show. Dr. Phil asked how a healthy uterus was available. The doctor replied that in most cases it’s a hormonal problem that leads to hysterectomy! Dr. Phil could have pushed this issue but he didn’t.
And there have been ovary transplants too.
I would be more than happy to take anti-rejection drugs if I could get a uterus and ovary transplant but I know that’s not realistic!
And the thought of the medical profession profiting even more from hysterectomy turns my stomach.
Are We Hysterectomized and Castrated Women…Egg Donors? Could this be possible?
The fertility bank and donation center in the area where I live is less than 2 miles from the hospital where hysterectomy and ovary removal is thriving. The lifespan of a female ovarian egg is two days…does this give the laboratory time to incubate and prepare the ovarian egg for fertilization.?…Any experts here know about this?
Here are phrases I found in the “egg donor” fertility specialty.
1. “Generous compensation is offered to the “donors” for time and travel.”
2. Donors may either be “anonymous” or they may be a donor, such as a “friend or relative”. (Most women decide to undergo an egg donation process as “anonymous donors”). (The identity of the donor remains anonymous throughout the entire donor process.)…Imagine that! Most women donate their ovarian eggs anonymously.
After the donor’s eggs (anonymous or known) have matured a needle retrieves them through guidance of an ultrasound. Eggs are then fertilized in the (state of the art laboratory) and incubated for up to five days. After incubation…the eggs are transferred to the “recipient’s uterus in a simple outpatient procedure”. A pregnancy test is performed within 2 weeks after the transfer.
Can anyone else on this blog find interesting information concerning women’s unnecessarily discarded, valuable, sexual reproductive organs.? What could be done by a gynecologist or fertility specialist using a “whole” amputated female ovary.?
This is the key phrase in the article below, is it questionable? “They got their cells from ovaries that had been removed from young women for other reasons.”
ANI
“Artificial ovary grown in lab by researchers at the Women and Infants Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, has been able to turn an immature egg into one that is ready to be fertilised.
An artificial ovary grown in lab by researchers at the Women and Infants Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, has been able to turn an immature egg into one that is ready to be fertilised.
Lead researchers Sandra Carson and Stephan Krotz had created the artificial ovary using slivers of ovarian tissue.
For this work, the researchers started with theca cells, which form the outer coating of the follicle that holds the egg and produces a precursor to oestrogen.
They got their cells from ovaries that had been removed from young women for other reasons. A gel mould shaped like a honeycomb was seeded with theca cells, which grew into a structure 2 millimetres wide.
From the fluid surrounding eggs of another set of women undergoing IVF the team extracted granulosa cells, which produce the hormone oestradiol and help eggs to mature.
They used a mould to form them into spherical clumps, which they placed into cavities in the honeycomb.
Next, they took a human egg that was about one week shy of ovulation and placed it into the structure along with follicle-stimulating hormone, which helps egg growth but is not released in the ovaries.
The egg took just 72 hours to develop to the point where it could be fertilised: at this point it had developed a “polar body”, a small structure only produced once an egg is mature.
Scientists say that the next step will be to see if the ovary can mature even younger eggs, known as primordial cells, which women have in their thousands.
“We’re hoping to take eggs that are very immature and mature them,” New Scientist quoted Carson as saying.
Krotz reckons this could be done in 10 days, compared with the 280 or more days it would take in a woman’s body.
Eggs seem to mature faster outside the body, which may be because the artificial ovary lacks factors produced by the body that inhibit the process.
The researchers reported their findings on 2 May at a meeting of the New England Fertility Society in New Hampshire.”
This is a bit off the wall and I was debating posting it but then I figure this is HERS Foundation so why the heck not!!
Anyway, I was reading some stuff, not sure where, and went and found my admitting forms from 3 years ago. I am just wondering if doctors and/or hospitals might resell our parts?? Maybe this gives them more incentive to preform total hysterectomy. I am sure there are labs/schools/research institutions,etc. in the market. I found a form with my admitting papers stating I did not care what happened to my body parts after they were removed. I don’t remember signing it but there was my name.
A weird question but…………it makes it even sicker!!
Med Help must have deleted this guys posts. He was very anger and I’m sure they could not give him a decent answer so they just got rid of him!!
The poor guy is on Med Help and I am banned from the site. The truth is not welcome there.
There is a lot of information in the FDA’s databank of reported Adverse Events.
If you will post the website information where the husband is seeking information about Novasure HERS will respond. You can either post it on HERS blog or email hersfdn@earthlink.net.
I was trying to look up a procedure called Novasure as a man on another site is crying for help. His wife is in critical care from this procedure and he is mad!
I looked at the Novasure web site and under ‘The procedure’ it basically says, Novasure is a less invasive alternative to hysterectomy and other procedures. It does not tell you anything about how the procedure is done Just goes on and on about how you will be up and about in no time! And no more heavy bleeding.
Talk about fraud!
Jack The Ripper” is presumed to have been a “Gynecologist”. “Jack The Ripper” precisely amputated the uterus of one of his female victims which is documented.
A book called “The Age of Sex Crime” by Jane Caputi:
“The sexualized serial murder of women by men is the subject of this provocative book. Jane Caputi argues that the sensationalized murders by men such as Jack the Ripper, Son of Sam, Hillside Strangler, and the Yorkshire Ripper represent a contemporary genre of sexually political crimes. The awful deeds function as a form of patriarchal terrorism, “disappearing” women at a rate of some four thousand annually in the United States alone.”
Caputi interconnects the various manifestations of sex crimes from illegal sex crimes to legal sex crimes. The word “gynocide” is used in her book and accurately describes the medical practice of Gynecology historically and currently.
At this point confronting the gynecologist who knowingly harmed you may not be beneficial to you as the “predator gynecologist” already knows what he has done to you.
The known sociopath and psychopathic behavior of the “serial mutilator” is clinically documented and the “ego” of a “serial mutilator” will be damaged by being publicly exposed. The OB/GYN “serial gynecological mutilator” has been legally protected by the medical industry and shielded from being publicly exposed, until now.
I believe sending the Gynecologist “The H Word” by “CERTIFIED MAIL” and listing the gynecologists name on the Hers list of doctors given “The H Word” may be a much more productive avenue for you.
If you feel you must confront the “Gynecologist The Ripper” personally to benefit you and your husband, by all means confront.
The hospitals should also be sued. They are just as much perpetrators as the doctors and insurance companies. I filed a complaint against my surgeon with the insurance company in February. I never got a response. I’m going to resend it and ask why they never responded.
It would be great if we could file a class action suit against each of our doctors who destroyed our live and lets add the insurance companies that ok’s these surgeries. We have all been lied too. My doctor said the fibroids might turn into Cancer or that I could die. He told me nothing would change, in fact, my life would be better than ever. This is a lie! He told me my sex life wouldn’t change. This is another lie. I was never given any alternative surgeries or told about the consequences after having the surgery. Then they make you sign the consent form when you are not fully awake. When you complain about all the side-effects after the surgery, your doctor ships you to another department and another doctor. They don’t want to hear your complaints. They are just interested in getting another woman on their surgery table. I knew when I woke up from my surgery, something was terribly wrong with me. I just didn’t know what. My body was shaking for over an hour and I was deathly sick. I also ended up with blood clots on my lungs and just about died. This is a barbaric surgery and should be a crime and abuse on women.
I agree Laurie, if gynecologists were only suggesting hysterectomy and castration when a woman had cancer, this blog wouldn’t exist. It would be far different if it was a life saving measure, but in 90% of the cases, it’s done for benign reasons. These so-called “doctors” are just looking for an excuse to remove a woman’s organs to make money. It’s an atrocity that they’ve been able to dupe 1/3 of the female population in the U.S. and get away with it. What I learned from this experience is that a woman doesn’t even have to consent to this surgery to wake up without her organs. It doesn’t matter if you say “no”. Once you are under anesthesia, you’re a sitting duck. It takes a very sick person to lie to a woman, and then amputate her reproductive sex organs against her will, and without her consent, and without medical basis. These are not mistakes, but acts done for the purpose of making money, and maybe even a power trip. If the government was to do a sting operation on gynecologists, and survey what women were told before they were hysterectomized and castrated and compare that to their pathology reports, it would be known as the largest most devious crime spree in history.
CT, like I said, I’d feel differently if I had cancer. I think that’s can be a good reason to have a hysterectomy, and is probably preferable to death. But, it should be an the last possible choice, after all other options have been explored.
It does come down to that question of choice again. Funny how men and doctors are the ones who often make those choices for women.
I’m also cautious about the notion of a hysterectomy because, when I had cysts removed when I was 20, my roommate was a woman who was about 60 and was having a hysterectomy. I think she might have had a prolapsed uterus; I’m not really sure what her condition was. All I know is as I quickly recovered from my surgery, I never saw her get out of bed again. When I left, she was developing pneumonia. I have no idea what happened to her, but I wouldn’t have been surprised to hear that she died.
I agree Anonymous, mutilating a female by removing her sex organs is a form of death. I think it would be more humane to just kill a woman, than remove her sex organs for no reason, letting her live in torture the rest of her life. At least Jack the Ripper, Ted Bundy and other serial mutilators put women out of their misery, unlike gynecologists. That is not to say that gynecologists don’t kill women too, (50-500 a year during unnecessary hysterectomy surgery), but their goal is to extract their sex organs, then keep them alive. There’s more money to be made off a hysterectomized woman that lives.
To Laurie: I’m glad you avoided being hysterectomized and castrated. Your story just goes to show that you did not need a hysterectomy, but were told by multiple doctors that you did. Thanks for posting!
A little over two years ago, I started having mild but fairly chronic pelvic pain. I was 50. My gynecologist thought I had ovarian cysts. I’d had them previously in my early 20s and had them removed without any complications. After a few months, the pain was worse and I pushed to have the cysts removed. Eventually, the doctor agreed, though I had many tests along the way. I had to sign the “hysterectomy clause,” and while I wasn’t eager to do so, I knew having a hysterectomy was at least a possibility. She thought it was more likely that I might need to have an ovary removed in addition to the cysts.
It turned out the cysts were wrapped around a Fallopian tube, so I had one tube, the cysts and some adhesions removed. The doctor found I also had both fibroids and endometriosis. But she was fairly conservative and I was glad she didn’t take out anything she didn’t absolutely need to take out.
Over the next 15 months, the pelvic pain got worse. My doctor went on a sabbatical and her replacement thought I should have a hysterectomy. As I’m menopausal, I thought I’d wait as menopause tends improve pain from fibroids and endometriosis. The pain got worse, I saw a new gynecologist, and she made the same recommendation – have a hysterectomy.
Within a month, without doing anything, the random pain and bleeding was gone. I still have a miserable few days around my period, but most of the time I no longer have pain. So, so far, I’ve been able to avoid having a hysterectomy.
If I had cancer, I’d certainly reconsider having a hysterectomy. But when you have a condition that menopause can improve, it’s worth trying to wait it out.
CT said “and they try to keep them alive instead of killing them.”
But, in essence, they DO kill us – just not physically! They also dismiss their victims as patients after the post-op “check-up” as they’ve done the final gyn procedure / pelvic clean-out and cannot make any more money off of them. This also prevents them from having to be faced with the rapid deterioration that occurs post-castration.
At least that was my experience. I was dismissed by the staff of my surgeon, Richard C. Muckerman II, when I called complaining of problems. I was told by his nurse “we’ve never heard of that before” and was offered no help. She quickly ended the call.
The only difference between gynecologists, Jack The Ripper, Ted Bundy, (and other serial mutilators) is that gynecologists put women under anesthesia before they mutilate them, and they try to keep them alive instead of killing them.
I am male so I am somewhat less likely to have my sex organs hacked out of me account of fraudulent permission forms. I was amazed when I recently had a prostate biopsy how inclusive the permission I had to sign was. It basically gave the doctor permission to do anything he felt like to my reproductive and urinary organs. Now, since I was awake throughout the procedure, I knew that it would be limited to taking the tissue samples needed to diagnose my disease.
I later had a laser reduction of the prostate. I had told my urologist that I would edit the permission if it was too broad. The form specified exactly what was to be done. I did not need to edit.
My point is that we, as patients, do not have to give a doctor permission to perform unneeded surgery simply because the permission form allows it. We can edit and modify it. Does this assure one that the doctor will follow the instructions? No, look at the case of the guy who is suing a urology group for removing most of his penis when they had permission only to circumcise him.
Modifying the permission form does give the patient a bit more leverage in a lawsuit.
Do we need to sue more gynecologists for fraud and malpractice for castrating the women who trust them to do right by a patient? You bet, I am in favor of that. When we perform about 600,000 hysterectomies in the US each year and only 60,000 or less are for cancer, something is very wrong and needs to be done to correct this situation.
Bobbi, that seems to be their mode of operation. They scam you into agreeing to the whole pelvic cleanout “in case they have to take everything” but it’s just a scam because “taking everything” is their plan from the beginning regardless of what they find. In many cases, they find nothing, and still hack all the organs out. Yes, fraud, sexual assault, mutilation, etc. Where is law enforcement?
Just posted and was looking at your question again,
1. I was lied to and given MANY false statements
2. The OR nurses and the admitting nurse were witness to these statements and did nothing
3.I was definitely induced into signing the consent form
4. Don’t even get me started on the injury to my person. I would be here all day
I would applaud a law suite. I was brought a consent form while in pre-op. My doctor told me I needed to sign “In case I get in and find out I need to take everything.” He promised me he would do a total “Only if absolutely necessary.” I had a cyst. Only a cyst. Fraud?? This is the tip of the iceberg.
Reasons FOR the hysterectomy?
“Why, your uterus LOOKED bad and the left ovary LOOKED bad also.”
My life is no longer MY life. I am someone I do not know or like. I feel as if I have been raped.
If i am already suing my surgeon for malpractice, can i still take part in a class action? My attorney wants me to keep quiet about anything related to my case for a best shot at winning. I’ve been told I have a strong case.
I’ve also searched online and found that while many women lose their cases.. a good number of victims are winning them as well.. do you think the tide is turning in our favor? have you seen this as well?
This story was in the news: Taxi Driver Assaults: London taxi driver John Worboys was sentenced Tuesday to at least eight years in prison for drugging and sexually assaulting female passengers. Prosecutors said Worboys, 51, targeted women who had been out late drinking. He was convicted of assaulting 12 women but investigators say they linked him to at least 85 attacks.This guy got 8 years for just drugging and sexually assaulting women. Gynecologists get no time for lying, drugging and removing women’s sex organs without medical basis. The taxi driver only attacked 85 women, but gynecologists attack over 500,000 per year, every year and not only are there no prosecutions, they get paid and rewarded.
I have to agree totally with the comments on this posting but especially the last.
I was told I had a recurrence of a disease on my remaining ovary as outlined by CT and MRI scans. That said disease was virulent and that removal would cure me. Well what person would refute such evidence given to them. Except there was no disease, and despite reassurances given to me that no prophylatic surgery would be carried out, the removal of my normal ovary, uterus and cervix was undertaken. Needless to say I was angry (a palid understatement).
I’ve undertaken legal action. I will win.
I live in the UK. I cannot take part in your class action but I wish all of you the best of luck and I hope you all go ahead with it. Much love.
I would take part in a class action lawsuit against doctors and patient education institutions that supplied the erroneous information used to induce me to sign a hysterectomy consent form.
Not mentioning the verbal medical lies or the proof in my medical records that show an unnecessary sex organ amputation was performed on me through coercion and obvious medical deceit. Not mentioning the physical attack perpetrated upon me by the gynecologist surgeon and his accomplices including (but not limited to) the anesthesiologist and surgeon assistant.
I believe these statements alone in the patient material I was given proves “material fact” and is proof of “Fraud in the inducement for hysterectomy”. See quote below:
“Expectations of Outcome”
“Hysterectomy is a major surgery and you will need several weeks of recovery before you feel well again. With passing days and weeks, you will see improvement and gradually resume your normal activities. It is common for women to report feeling tired and weak 6 weeks after this surgery.
Most women will feel better following hysterectomy, both in improved mood and sense of well-being. Some women will experience feelings of loss or depression following hysterectomy, especially when childbearing was not completed or surgery was because of cancer. Many women report an improved sex-life after surgery. This can be from relief of constant pain, improved energy, and no worry of becoming pregnant.”
Sounds like “Fraud in the inducement for hysterectomy” to me, as you have outlined.
“Fraud in the inducement for hysterectomy requires proof that 1) a false statement of material fact was made, 2) the doctor/hospital knew or should have known the material fact was false, 3) the false statement induced the woman into signing the consent form, and 4) the hysterectomy caused injury to the woman who relied on the misrepresentation as fact.”
I failed to mention a key item in my previous post. The oncologist to whom I was referred could have prevented me from enduring this but he also failed to tell me the consequences of this surgery and also had significant “errors” in my records. This, of course, mirrors many other women’s stories.
And just like the group of three physicians who reviewed “The H Word” but chose to remain anonymous to protect their referral base, I suspect that the oncologist “sacrificed” me to protect his referral base. How sick!
I was pleasantly surprised to see this newly posted blog subject as I was just thinking earlier today how maybe “The H Word” would trigger some much needed and deserved lawsuits against the perpetrators!
I would definitely welcome a class action lawsuit.
My hysterectomy experience met all four requirements for fraud in the inducement.
1) False statements were made as follows:
a) Monitoring of the cystadenoma was not feasible.
b) Frozen section results are too unreliable.
c) Hormones are “easily titrated”
d) You have a small cystadenoma on the other ovary (as I questioned why “everything has to go”). The other ovary was healthy.
2) It’s common medical knowledge that
a) The cystadenoma could have been monitored.
b) Frozen section results are very reliable – close to 100%.
c) Hormones are NOT easily “titrated” (why else would there be so many from which to choose)? And, the main point is that exogenous hormones don’t make up for our body’s own hormones.
3) My 20 years of trust in this doctor allowed me to believe his lies and sign the consent form.
4) The hysterectomy caused injury to me by ruining my life and every aspect of my health – physical, mental, emotional and sexual.
In answer to the fraud statements:
1) I was led to believe the doctor was in agreement with my decision to utilize the surgical procedure myomectomy to address my asymptomatic fibroids. A myomectomy was my interest at the initial consultation and I inquired again after completing all radiological tests.
2) When it came time to sign the consent form titled ‘Myomectomy Consent Form’ I hesitated because of the reference to hysterectomy in the body of the text. I questioned the doctor as to why it listed hysterectomy, was I in danger of having one?? To this she responded no; and immediately wrote on the consent form her intent (based on the radiological findigs) to assure me of this.
3) I did not see the doctor before being taken to the operating room, nor in the operating room, nor when they started to strap me down (to my surprise), nor when I started to scream inside of my head to stop and tears started to flow, nor before the nurses notices the tears and I was put out via the anesthesia, nor when I was awaken and told I had been given a hysterectomy.
4) Since I did not go in to surgery for a hysterectomy, I didn’t know what it meant to have one at the age of 35, aside from my choice of not having given birth, was now permanent.
5) It wasn’t until after my energy levels plummeted, developed crippling lower back pain, started having trouble learning, and the surgeon told me ‘maybe my center of gavity was off’ or an internist told me ‘why do you women always gain weight after hysterectomy’ and the surgeon told me ‘you are not in menopause’ – did I seek out and find the HERS Foundation in desperation…how can family and friends help when you don’t know what has happened to you, when you can’t articulate what’s happening to you, when the surgeon claims to not know what is going on…what do you do? What do you do, indeed.
TQ
Nora-
I also have a case of all the elements of fraud which you have defined. Several false statement were made to me to induce me to undergo the hysterectomy. Without my prior knowledge or consent, I was operated on by partially trained residents. They were blasting fist pumping rock and roll music while operating on patients. It was most frightening and barbaric. I was oversedated and stopped breathing which caused serious neurological injruy. Before the operation, I was in excellent health and ran four miles every morning. I was diagnosed with acute onset of Multiple Sclerosis from the trauma of the hysterectomy. I now take many expensive specialty medications . I am not able to stand or walk for very long and have complications too numerous to list. Where is the conscience of these doctors and residents?
Maimed
I would more than welcome a class action suit. In answer to the fraud statements 1) I was told that a hysterectomy was going to be performed on me, when I asked why multiple times, I was never given an answer, nor was I given any alternatives. 2) It is common medical knowledge that my condition only required a minor surgery. It only takes a simple google search. 3) I signed a blank consent form giving the doctor only permission verbally to do the very least necessary to correct my condition and specifically stated that I did not want a hysterectomy, and wanted all my organs saved. I was put under anesthesia without my knowledge. I woke up with my healthy uterus, ovaries and cervix amputated. I would later learn that my consent form was falsified upon obtaining my hospital records. Although I never agreed to a hysterectomy, the consent form reflected that I did. My insurance company was billed for a condition that I did not have, and they paid the doctor and hospital. It has ruined my life and my health.
Same thing done to me ruining my health. The forms were altered never mentioned hysterectomy. Dr and wife in crown point,in. Did this in ambulatory clinic in 23 minutes cut everything out
Urinary and bowel issues, insomnia real panel getting worse, no attorney will take my case
What am I to do? Even a small tramatic brain injury cut part of my bladder off. More injuries I’m still trying to find out what he did to me. He cut my vagina off from the inside. Doctors cannot examine me. Laws need to change so the patient must write permission the whole sentence with a family member near by. I found later he spent 2 years in Pakistan all .ens college. A monster to leave me with no life afterwards.