Foundation responds to news of possible sterilisation for a woman with learning disabilities

A news story published today says that a woman with learning disabilities could face sterilisation when she undergoes a caesarean later this week.

Barbara McIntosh, Co-Director for the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, gives her response:

“It would be very unusual for sterilisation to be used currently as a means of contraception in the UK. This approach has a permanent result, cannot be reversed, and challenges basic human rights.

There are a number of alternatives for long-term birth control that can be considered, while the person with the learning disability should receive the right support and information that they can understand from health services, family and carers, to make an appropriate choice.”

Read this story in full on the Telegraph's website.