New migrants are brazenly asking Australian doctors to perform barbaric female genital mutilation on their children, research into the illegal practice has revealed.
At least 10 doctors have been approached to give advice on where families can have the disfiguring surgery done. Three paediatricians have been asked to carry out the abuse themselves, a study has found.
The disturbing revelation comes as parliamentary papers show hundreds of NSW nurses and doctors are being given training to identify and treat a growing number of victims of the horrific practice arriving in NSW under a refugee program.
Sydney University’s Elizabeth Elliott, one of the study authors, said one in 10 Australian paediatricians surveyed had treated a patient with FGM.
“It is recognised as physical abuse under Australian child protection laws and it must be reported to child protection authorities,” said Prof Elliott, a specialist in paediatric and child health.
The study, run by the paediatric surveillance unit at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, found that since 2010 doctors had seen almost 60 girls aged between four months and 17 years of age subjected to the procedure.
Many had undergone the most extreme form of mutilation — a partial or complete removal of the clitoris.
Prof Elliot said she was surprised at how many paediatricians had seen FGM child survivors in the past five years.
“We really have no idea of the prevalence and we suspect this is a gross underestimate of the number of girls who have been affected by this procedure,” she said.
“Misconceptions about the practice are common and doctors want more information on how to manage this illegal practice.”
AMA chief Michael Gannon said it was “absolutely essential doctors understand the law in Australia and this process is not only morally and ethically wrong it is illegal”.
“As a practising gynaecologist and obstetrician, I have seen personally first hand the havoc it wreaks on the wellbeing of girls and women,” Dr Gannon said.
“The reality of the changes in the demographic of the Australian population is that victims of this vulgar operation do exist in our society.
“We want to where possible offer sensitive care to those women.”
In response to an influx of thousands of new humanitarian refugees being settled in Sydney, NSW health authorities are beefing up specialist services to combat the scourge.
Dr Gannon called for more training for doctors to recognise and treat survivors, who can suffer lifelong medical issues including psychological trauma and birthing problems.