Surgical Excision Of Clitoris Without Patient Consent

Subsequent Visits

DeWaegeneire visited Dr A many other times throughout 2002 and into 2003. In June, she saw the doctor again for a follow-up appointment. She reported no itching or bleeding in the perineal area, upon which Dr A noted a whitish dry scar near the woman’s clitoris, abrasions in the perineal area and scratch marks around the previous incision line. He sent her on her way with care instructions and told her to come back five weeks later.

She went back to Dr A on September 26^th, 2002 and complained of itching in her vulva.

DeWaegeneire came back to see Dr A on November 7^th, 2002, and told the doctor she had not used the testosterone cream he had given her. The doctor examined the woman and observed areas of lichen sclerosus and rectocele in the front wall of the rectum and into the vaginal area. He planned to do surgery and it included not only correction, but a second partial/simple vulvectomy and a posterior repair. He later testified that he wished to take care of the lichen issue first.

In February 2003, the woman returned to Dr A and complained about itching. After an exam was performed, it was confirmed that her lichen condition had returned, and Dr A performed another simple vulvectomy and laser vaporization of the clitoral hood and affected perineal area. He removed the simple layer of skin from the hood of the clitoris and left the rest of the clitoral hood and clitoris totally intact.

On June 27^th, 2003, the patient again visited Dr A and reported itching around her clitoris. A physical examination revealed a spot of recurrent lichen sclerosus in the perineal area. He prescribed clobestasol fourteen days and asked her to return in a month. He noted at that time a surgical re-excision would be needed. Subsequent records reveal that the woman’s lichen sclerosus had come back. DeWaegeneire had another operation, and she was 58 years old when it happened.

'I Am Going To Take Your Clitoris, Too'

The woman alleged that Dr A failed to obtain proper consent and failed to utilize alternate medical therapies, such as cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy and topical macrolide treatment, in lieu of surgery. The discolored patches on the patient's vulva were later identified as precancer. While Dr A initially denied having excised the entire clitoris, later pathology reports found that this had indeed been done. While Sharon Demmery, a theater nurse present at the operation, noticed that a rather large amount of tissue was being removed, Dr responded he needed to prevent the cancer from coming back. 

Though having procedures that are not agreed on in advance performed on you is certainly a reason to sue your doctor, the patient's story is altogether more horrifying. As her general anesthesia was about to set in, she said the following happened: "He leaned over me and, for my ears only, he said: 'I'm going to take your clitoris too.''' The patient further alleged that Dr A told her her "husband was dead so it did not matter anyway". 

DeWaegeneire  hired lawyers and filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Dr A. Before the case went to trial, it was settled in the amount of $2 million. We will probably never learn what truly happened during this case, but we can certainly conclude that informed consent is a precious thing indeed and we want to know exactly what will be happening to us if we are due to undergo any kind of surgery.

READ Does A Second Opinion From Another Doctor Do Any Good?

Before you undergo any medical procedures, it is important that you have absolute trust in your physician. More than that, get the entire planned procedure in writing and discuss all concerns you have at length. All too often, people will take for granted that they “must” do what their doctor tells them, even if their gut tells them differently. If you have doubts about some type of treatment or surgical procedure your doctor is recommending, go out and get a second and third opinion, because it’s your body and you ultimately control what happens to it.