Lime 5: Unauthorized Sterilizations

We were surprised to find these cases when we were researching Lime 5.

"Barbara" was 13 years old when she underwent an abortion at Hospital 46. She later found out that the doctor had performed a hysterectomy, rendering her forever unable to have children. The doctor justified his decision on the basis of Barbara's intellectual disability, but in her hospital discharge summary he made references to her race, family size, and economic status. (New Haven Connecticut Judicial District Court Case No. 270206)

"Marjorie" went to a Chicago hospital on July 26, 1967 for an abortion. Three doctors, John Roes 4, 206, and 480, agreed to perform a tubal ligation while Marjorie was under general anesthesia. Not only was Marjorie not informed, she was assisted in obtaining a contraceptive device. In 1973 the chief of the obstetrics and gynecology department (Roe 206) assured Marjorie that she could still conceive in spite of being well aware of the tubal ligation. It wasn't until 1980 that Marjorie's physician informed her. (Illinois Appellate Court, 1st District, 4th Division, Case No. 86-1163)

On October 26, 1974: Nancy, age 21, went to the clinic of Dr. Joseph Rucker (John Roe 674) clinic after paying $75 for a referral after two other Chicago doctors said they could not perform an abortion outside a hospital because she was nearly six months pregnant. Nancy thus expected to be sent to a hospital and was surprised that she was sent to just a clinic, and one that struck her as unsanitary. She later said that the pre-operative examination consisted of Rucker walking into the room, putting his hand on her abdomen, and announcing, "15 weeks." Nancy was actually nearly six months into her pregnancy. Nancy said that Rucker started swearing during the procedure, saying that the fetus skull was stuck. "I felt like I had been jabbed with a knife," she said.  Unable to finish the abortion, Rucker sent Nancy to Garden City Osteopathic Hospital, 23 miles away, even though there was two large, fully-equipped hospital within a mile of his clinic. The surgeon who removed the fetal head and repaired the tear in Nancy's uterus told her that Rucker had removed her appendix and tied her tubes while she was under anesthesia, telling the surgeon that this was what Nancy had requested. She had not requested this sterilization surgery. When she called Rucker from the hospital to complain, Rucker said that she was fortunate because he'd performed this bonus surgery and had returned her abortion fee, so she should be happy. ("The case against Dr. Rucker: A Study in Delays," Detroit Free Press, November 14, 1982; "Doctor thumbs his nose at the medical board," Detroit Free Press, November 14, 1982)

"Beverly" went to Acme Reproductive Services 47 in New Orleans for an abortion on July 29, 1984. She sought follow-up care from the abortion doctor on August 7 because she was in severe pain. Beverly later learned that during this visit the doctor performed a tubal ligation without her knowledge or consent. (Orleans Parish Civil District Court Division C Docket No. 85-12171)

Watch Lime 5: Unauthorized Sterilizations on YouTube.