§ 32. Mr. MITCHESON(for Mr. POTTER) asked the Home Secretary if a recent inquest on a woman who died after an operation for sterilisation has been brought to his attention; and if he will give instructions that a record of any such happenings shall be kept in the Home Office?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have seen a newspaper report of the inquest in this case. I have no means of securing a record of such occurrences unless death results in circumstances which require a report to be made to the coroner; and I do not think that any public interest would be served by my asking coroners to tabulate separately such cases as may be reported to them.
§ 55. Mr. MITCHESON(for Mr. POTTER) asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to a recent inquest on a woman after an operation for sterilisation; and if he will take steps to 528 obtain statistics of the frequency with which such operations are performed in hospitals subject to his inspection?
Sir H. YOUNGYes, Sir, I have seen a newspaper report on the inquest referred to, in which the verdict recorded that sterilisation had been medically advised owing to the physical incapacity of the patient to withstand the risks she would incur in undergoing confinement. I do not think it would be useful to attempt to collect statistics of such cases.