22-Year-Old Mum Fights for Tubal Ligation After Doctors Refused Because of Her Age

A young mum, who is pregnant with her third child in three years, is fighting for her right to have a tubal ligation surgery after doctors refused, saying she was too young.

Holly Maitland, 22, from Cairns, Queensland, is currently 27 weeks pregnant with her third baby in three years, despite being on the contraceptive pill each time. She now wants to go under the knife for a tubal ligation surgery, but doctors denied her on the basis of her age.

Because of this, Ms Maitland launched an online petition, which now has over 900 signatures, urging the Australian government to allow women to make their own decisions, rather than making decisions on their behalf based on age, mental stability and health. She told Daily Mail Australia:

“I’m a young mum of two children. My two children are two and one and all pregnancies are results of failed contraception.

“I decided to start this petition because I feel it’s wrong and absolutely disgusting that our choices are being made by others. We are not allowed to make choices ourselves.

“It’s so important to get this message out and about for the simple fact that we don’t have a right to our bodies. We don’t have that right to make decisions ourselves.”

Ms Maitland said that on July 14, she was ‘rudely denied’ the ligation surgery and her husband, Jon, 30, was refused a vasectomy because of her age.

“Why shouldn’t WE be allowed to make them decisions for ourselves?! Why is our health and medical choices in the hands of people we don’t know [sic]?” She said.

Ms Maitland said people also accused her of not taking the pill correctly.

She said she hopes to rally as much support as possible for her cause and has emailed the Prime Minister and the Minister for Health.

“I think they’re discriminating because of my age. I may be 22 but I’m not stupid.

“The doctors do have good points. There is contraception that works for people but it doesn’t work for everyone unfortunately.

“I say “thank you” to the people that say I’m too young, they’re the reason I’m pushing this even further. Age is just a number.

“I’m a consenting adult who has made this decision. I’m not 12 nor should I be treated like I am,” she said.

Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service obstetrics and gynaecology clinical director Dr Samantha Scherman confirmed a specialist obstetrician had met with Ms Maitland last week.

She said there were many contraceptive options available to couples that were reversible and less invasive than tubal ligation, where clips are placed on the fallopian tubes. She also explained why Ms Maitland was probably refused the procedure. “Reversing tubal ligation requires reconnecting the fallopian tubes and success is not guaranteed. Tubal ligation is considered to be a permanent procedure,” she said.

Tubal ligation is a surgical procedure in which a woman’s fallopian tubes are blocked, tied or cut to achieve a permanent form of birth control.

Dr Scherman added: “It is very unusual to conduct a tubal ligation on a 22-year-old as there is significant evidence through many studies that there is an extremely high likelihood the decision will be regretted in the future.”

A Queensland Health spokesperson said a meeting had been organised for Ms Maitland next week with a senior obstetrician and gynaecologist for a second opinion.

“There is no minimum age for tubal ligation in Queensland, but decisions are made by the treating clinician based on an individual’s clinical circumstances,” the spokesperson said.

Sources: Dailymail.co.uk, News.com.au and Abc.net.au