DOCTORS have refused to carry out a hysterectomy on a 15-year-old girl with cerebral palsy, following an ethical row sparked by her mother’s request to have her daughter’s womb removed.

The mother of wheelchair-bound Katie Thorpe had asked a hospital in Essex to carry out the procedure because she believes it will improve her quality of life.

Alison Thorpe said she wanted her disabled daughter to avoid the “pain, discomfort and indignity” of menstruation.

Thorpe, from Billericay, Essex, has been told doctors at the Mid-Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust have refused to consider operating without a “clinical reason”.

Katie suffers from severe cerebral palsy and needs round-the-clock care. Her condition has left her unable to walk or talk and she is also incontinent.

Doctors initially suggested contraceptive pills and injections to stop Katie’s periods starting, but her mother ruled them out because of the risk of her daughter suffering a thrombosis.

Thorpe had been discussing the surgery with Phil Roberts, a consultant gynaecologist at St John’s Hospital, Chelmsford, and was hopeful he would carry out the operation.

A spokesman for the trust said: “Before we make any decision to operate on a patient we look at each case on an individual basis.

“This applies in the case of Katie Thorpe and we have met the family to discuss this. Due to patient confidentiality we are not able to give any more details.”

The hospital’s decision was welcomed by disabled rights groups.

A spokeswoman for the Disabled People’s Council, said: “There are so many approaches, this is a completely inappropriate response to the situation. To violate Katie’s rights is not the answer.”

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