SecondUniverse (she/her/they)May 3

20% of women "might" regret a sterilization procedure, so the NHS often denies access.

1) The "regret" bogeyman is rolled out for any procedure deviating from social norms. For example, gender affirming care has an almost 0% regret rate, but "regret" is still used to gatekeep care. The rate of regret is not the factor. It is resistance to the idea people can choose not to follow the "norm".

2) People can choose things in life knowing they might regret them. The possibility of regret is part of our freedom. Only the person undergoing the procedure can decide if the risk is acceptable to them.

3) A life with regrets is not a lesser life. A life paternalistically shielded from regret is a diminished life.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/01/female-sterilisation-nhs-access-questions

#trans #womensRights #ukpol

Woman’s fight for sterilisation raises questions over access to procedure

Critics say women face unequal treatment but others say tighter controls reflect legitimate medical concerns

The Guardian
Show threadJoan's Addiction 😷

@SecondUniverse This is a classic right-wing Christian argument:

It was deployed aggressively during the campaign ahead of the 2018 referendum to #Repeal the 8th amendment to the Irish constitution.

In that case, the argument failed: spectacularly. The referendum result was the largest landslide in voting history in Ireland - to say Yes to rejecting the 8th , and allow access to abortion.

However, the price of freedom is eternal vigilance ", so we can't take that for granted.

May 3 at 5:59pmWeb
Show threadllanciawnMay 3
@clickhere @SecondUniverse Government should be overtly secular.
Show threadJoan's Addiction 😷May 3

@llanciawn

In Ireland, it is. That doesn't seem to trouble the theocratists, though.

@SecondUniverse

Show threadllanciawnMay 3
@clickhere @SecondUniverse Perhaps no-one has taken them to court?