‘Women on first pregnancy seen as untried horses’

A medical textbook used in Irish hospitals in 1960 described women on their first pregnancy as a “dark and untried horse”, the Court of Appeal has heard.

“This was 1960,” said counsel Emily Egan. Another textbook referred to an article featuring “charming” photographs of women in Africa “skipping” after undergoing symphysiotomies, she said.

A 76-year-old woman who claimed a symphysiotomy carried out on her in 1963 had been unjustified, said she could not skip, dance, or ride a bicycle afterwards, Ms Egan agreed.