§ Miss Joan Lestorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will take steps to ensure that women seeking hysterectomies are informed that their husband's consent is not a statutory requirement;
(2) if he will estimate the number of women unable to obtain hysterectomies because their husband's consent was not provided.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe husband's consent is not a legal requirement in these cases, but I have no reason to think that doctors generally are not aware of the law on the point. I am not aware of any cases in which a hysterectomy has been refused because the patient's husband did not agree to it, but if the hon. Member knows of any such cases and will let me have details I am willing to take them up.