Question

Identify the ethical questions, concerns and issues that surround Female Genital Mutilation. Include resulting legislation (law) that continues to influence Female Genital Mutilation.

Answer 1

According to WHO ,Female Genital Mutilation is described as all procedures that involves partial or total removal of the female external and / or injury to the famale genital organs for cultural or any other non therapeutic reasons.

Ethical Questions:-

-Should Female Genital Mutilation be considered a public health issue?

- Are biomedical ethics even applicable when the providers of FGM are not trained medical personal?

-How does one respect cultural value while invoking human values?

- Do human values supercede cultural practices?

- What is the value of cultural relationship in promoting ethical behaviours?

Ethical Concerns and issues:-

- If this barbaric culture practice didn't exist,as it doesn't in the West ,women wouldn't elect it.

--If there is no cultural value attached to FGM .why would any girl want to do it?

- FGM is a reprehensive practice that is not only medically dangerous resulting in both short and long term health problems but also by excising the inner labia and labia major ,severely reduces the possibilities of sexual pleasure for women.

-- A misguided cultural relativism has tended to overlook these issues but that kind of relativism is not acceptable not when there are health and sexuality issued as well as harm to women.

Legislations that influence Female genital Mutilation:-

Female genital mutation has been always the subject of legislative activity both in African countries in which it has been traditionally practiced and in nations where African immigrants have settled .The other legistures around the world ,the U.S. Congress and a number of state legislative have enacted and penalizing the practice and supporting the global movement to abandon Female genital mutilation.