Photography by August Jennewein
We'd like to believe sexism in medicine was eradicated long ago. But it still exists, with some citing last year's Missouri abortion ban controversy as proof. Jill Delston, an associate teaching professor of philosophy at University of Missouri- St. Louis, explores this issue and its ramifications in her new book, Medical Sexism: Contraception Access, Reproductive Medicine, and Health Care.
Delston became inspired to write this book after reading a case study on how doctors withhold birth control prescription refills until after the patients come in for an unrelated test (most commonly a pap smear). In most circumstances, doctors don’t do this with other kinds of medications. This led Delston to consider its broader implications with regard to bioethics, applied ethics, and feminism.
She then learned from other case studies that medical sexism not only exists with reproductive health, but also with other health issues in general like autoimmune disorders, pain, and heart disease.
She began realizing just how pervasive medical sexism truly is and how it’s ingrained in our culture in order to uphold a patriarchal society. Delston states, “This overriding of patients’ desires and preferences infantilizes women instead of treating women like rational competent adults who are capable of making informed decisions regarding our health.” This can lead to dire consequences.
“Medical sexism kills,” Delston says, pointing to the fact that the maternal mortality rate has risen in the U.S. even though the infant mortality rate has decreased. Medical sexism can also impact the health of patients in other ways, she says, including research or routine treatments, such as with episiotomies, which occur at rates much higher than the recommended guidelines. This can lead to prolonged pain and recovery time even if those risks do not rise to the level of life and death. She argues that all impacts of medical sexism are worth attending to even if they have no direct ramifications on physical health. “Insofar as medical sexism violates the right to bodily autonomy, the right to refuse treatment, and the right to reproductive choice, we have reason to oppose it,” says Delston.
She hopes her book will empower patients to know their rights. “Just because a patient knows their rights, it doesn’t mean a doctor is necessarily going to respect those rights.” Consequently, she also hopes doctors adhere to established guidelines. In all, she hopes to encourage everyone to question medical sexism and get to the root of the problems we see.
Subterranean Books will be hosting her book release party on January 16 at 7 p.m.
