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Biomedical subjects

Nada L Stotland

Publications and source records attributed to Nada L Stotland.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Women's bodies, doctors' dynamics.

Medicine treats men's and women's reproductive organs and functions markedly differently. Interventions affecting male functioning are regarded as very serious and are seldom undertaken except to treat significant pathology. Interventions affecting perfectly normal female functioning, such as treatment for menstrual cycle mood changes, menopause, episiotomy, cesarean and other assisted delivery, hormonal contraception, and even hysterectomy, are rampant. These interventions can be attributed to men's unconscious (and conscious) curiosity, jealousy, hostility, and helplessness about female reproduction, coupled with the fact that men have dominated the field of medicine for most of its history. This article describes these interventions and the rationalizations for them, and questions their utility and meaning in the light of current knowledge.

Contraception↗
PubMed2003

Abortion and psychiatric practice.

The subject of abortion is fraught with politics, emotions, and misinformation. A widespread practice reaching far back in history, abortion is again in the news. Psychiatry sits at the intersection of the religious, ethical, psychological, sociological, medical, and legal facets of the abortion issue. Although the religions that forbid abortion are more prominent in the media, many religions have more liberal approaches. While the basic right to abortion has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, several limitations have been permitted, including parental notification or consent (with the possibility of judicial bypass) for minors, waiting periods, and mandatory provision of certain, sometimes biased, information. Before the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion in 1973, many women were maimed or killed by illegal abortions, and psychiatrists were sometimes asked to certify that abortions were justified on psychiatric grounds. Currently, there are active attempts to convince the public and women considering abortion that abortion frequently has negative psychiatric consequences. This assertion is not borne out by the literature: the vast majority of women tolerate abortion without psychiatric sequelae. The psychiatric outcome of abortion is best when patients are able to make autonomous, supported decisions. Psychiatrists need to know the medical and psychiatric facts about abortion. Psychiatrists can then help patients prevent unwanted pregnancies, make informed decisions consonant with their own values and circumstances when they become pregnant, and find appropriate social and medical resources whatever their decisions may be.

Journal Article↗