During my fellowship, I saw a woman I’ll call Betty who was seeking a tubal ligation. I was the fourth doctor that she had seen to get this care—the first three denied her request. Betty was 27 and about to start law school. She had always known that having a child was not something that she wanted for herself, but no one would take her seriously because of her age. She understood the seriousness of her decision, even offering that she had the ability to pay for IVF in the future if she changed her mind. After hearing her story, I gladly provided her with the sterilization procedure that she had been denied by other doctors. I may be an expert on reproductive health care, but Betty is the expert on her life and what she needed to help her achieve her goals. I trust my patients to make the right decisions for themselves.
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