Medical Misogyny, the Erosion of Trust, and the Failure of Informed Consent Prior to a Hysterectomy

Informed consent is often framed as central to ethical medical practice, yet women’s accounts suggest it can become a legal performance rather than a meaningful exercise of autonomy. This study examines public narratives of consent failures in hysterectomy, focusing on medical misogyny, racialized power, and epistemic injustice. We conduct reflexive thematic analysis of 413 comments responding to Gross’s 2024 New York Times article. Three themes emerged: dismissal of women’s voices; paternalism in surgical decisions; and consent violations, including operating-table choices and absent follow-up. We argue that informed consent can reinforce healthcare hierarchies and should become a relational, dialogic practice.