Why Doctors Save You for a StrangerThe lingering legacy of spousal consent in healthcare

From the show

Hidden Architecture of Patriarchy

Medical paternalism prioritizes a hypothetical man's lineage over a woman's right to choose. Although explicit spousal consent laws have vanished, the underlying logic remains embedded in healthcare. Doctors frequently deny voluntary sterilization to preserve fertility for a future partner, treating bodily autonomy as a transferable asset rather than an individual right.