A woman has accused the staff of a government hospital in India of implanting a birth control device in her uterus without obtaining her consent.

The woman, who did not disclose her name, said she delivered her second child in Madurai city, Tamil Nadu, on Nov. 12. Three days after giving birth, she experienced pain in her lower abdomen. It was then that she began wondering if an intrauterine device (IUD) had been inserted into her without her knowledge. She asked the doctors about it and their answer shocked her.

"The doctors tried to brush it off as normal pain. Later, I doubted whether an IUD could have been inserted and asked the doctors. They then told me that a 'Copper T' device has been placed," she told The Times of India.

"I was shocked to hear that because they had done the procedure without getting my consent. I wouldn't have even known if I hadn't asked," she added.

However, Dr. A Rathinavel, a senior doctor at the hospital, refuted the woman's allegation.

"The particular patient was discharged without any complaints. We always get consent from patients and also explain the procedure to patients. The patient will also be aware if such a procedure is done," the doctor said, as per the outlet.

The doctor also claimed that the woman had given them her written consent to install the IUD.

Such cases of unauthorized and forced insertion of contraceptive devices aren't new in the country.

In 2018, a government hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal, got embroiled in a controversy after several women made similar claims — they had been given birth control drugs, or an IUD had been inserted into their bodies immediately after childbirth without their consent.

"An injection can be given or an IUD introduced only if she is thoroughly aware of its purpose and side effects. She should also be comfortable using it or else the method will be rejected in the long run. But the quality of counseling service is poor at hospitals," Basab Mukherjee, a member of the Bengal Obstetric and Gynaecological Society, told The Times of India.

An IUD is a safe device and prevents pregnancy by releasing copper or hormones into the uterus. A large number of women feel minimal or tolerable pain during and after the procedure, according to Healthline. However, some women may experience increased cramping for months after a copper IUD is inserted.

Meanwhile, Copper T is a T-shaped birth control device wrapped in copper wire. It's hormone-free and can prevent pregnancy for up to 10 years.

surgery
Representation. Pixabay
RELATED STORIES
India