(161) THE 30-DAY WAITING PERIOD FOR ELECTIVE STERILIZATION IN NEW YORK STATE

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Abstract Introduction Current studies have shown that men who elect to undergo vasectomies do so willingly and with their eyes wide open: regret following vasectomy is quite rare, even in childless men. In the current era of patient autonomy, all that is required ethically for an adult male to undergo elective sterilization is capacity and a proper and complete informed consent discussion from a vasectomist skilled in the procedure. Why, then, must Medicaid covered men here in New York State and nationally wait 30 days following a consultation to have a vasectomy? Objective The purpose of the present study is to review the history of the 30-day-wait period for elective sterilization and to point out its inequities and dangers. Methods Public data search of primary source data: PubMed, Nexus/Lexus, NYTimes, NYUS DOH. Results In the 1970s, reports of sterilization abuse resulted in a movement to combat coercion in the form of regulations on publicly funded sterilization. The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare enacted regulations including a 72-hour waiting period before sterilization and prohibition of sterilization of those younger than 21 years old. In 1978 the waiting period was extended to 30 days. The New York State Sterilization Consent Form contains a policy length of 10 or more pages and exceeds the minimum reading levels required for patient education material and informed consent documents. The New York form requires a witness to certify that they were present while the counselor read and explained the consent to the patient, and that the witness saw the patient sign the consent form with his/her own handwriting. Conclusions Delays in access to reproductive care can, have and will continue to result in unwanted pregnancies. In the present post-Dobbs era, unwanted pregnancies have already caused morbidity and mortality in women and will only continue to so. Moreover, placing barriers to reproductive care for both men and women increases the woman’s reproductive burden and serves to promulgate generational poverty. Though mandatory wait period regulations came in response to public outcry related to improper sterilizations performed on vulnerable populations but in its current form, mandatory 30-day wait periods serve no one: not society nor the poor the policies claim to protect. Mandatory 30-day wait periods reek of inequity and must be abolished. This fight starts at the level of county and state medical societies. Disclosure No.