PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - D Ojanuga
TI  - The medical ethics of the 'father of gynaecology', Dr J Marion Sims.
AID  - 10.1136/jme.19.1.28
DP  - 1993 Mar 01
TA  - Journal of Medical Ethics
PG  - 28--31
VI  - 19
IP  - 1
4099  - http://jme.bmj.com/content/19/1/28.short
4100  - http://jme.bmj.com/content/19/1/28.full
SO  - J Med Ethics1993 Mar 01; 19
AB  - Vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF) was a common ailment among American women in the 19th century. Prior to that time, no successful surgery had been developed for the cure of this condition until Dr J Marion Sims perfected a successful surgical technique in 1849. Dr Sims used female slaves as research subjects over a four-year period of experimentation (1845-1849). This paper discusses the controversy surrounding his use of powerless women and whether his actions were acceptable during that historical period.