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Cases taken by three women over symphysiotomies declared inadmissible by European court

Three women, who underwent a controversial surgical procedure in Ireland, have had their cases re...
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Newsroom

11.46 10 Dec 2020


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Cases taken by three women ove...

Cases taken by three women over symphysiotomies declared inadmissible by European court

Newsroom
Newsroom

11.46 10 Dec 2020


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Three women, who underwent a controversial surgical procedure in Ireland, have had their cases rejected at the European Court of Human Rights.

The women had symphysiotomies in the 1960s when they were pregnant.

These three women are now in their 80s and live in Dublin, Cork and Meath.

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In the 1960s, when they were pregnant and due to give birth, a controversial surgical procedure called a symphysiotomy was carried out on each them in three different hospitals.

The women said they were not informed about the pelvic procedure and had not given their full and informed consent.

They also alleged they had suffered physical and psychological trauma.

They took their case to the European Court of Human Rights with one of the women citing inhuman and degrading treatment.

But the Court ruled their cases are inadmissible, saying the women haven’t exhausted all their legal possibilities here.

1,500 symphysiotomies were carried out in Ireland between the 1940s and 80s with many women saying they suffered chronic pain and incontinence following the procedure.

Reporting by Stephanie Rohan

Main image: The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Photo: Daniel Kalker/DPA/PA Images

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