Doctors who perform genital cosmetic surgery could be criminalised under FGM laws

The Crown Prosecution Service is reported to be deciding whether or not to prosecute British doctors in London and Cheshire under Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) laws for allegedly carrying out "designer vagina" operations.

Police are said to have opened investigations on three cases where doctors carried out cosmetic genital surgery on adult women and have handed files to the CPS, according to The Telegraph. 

In September 2016, MPs on the home affairs select committee called on the government to state specifically that female genital cosmetic surgery would be a criminal offence, saying that there was still ambiguity over the scope of the law. The Royal College of Midwives has also supported an amendment to make clear that female genital cosmetic surgery is illegal. 

During her time as Home Secretary, Theresa May told MPs that doctors would have to have a physical or mental health justification for carrying out this surgery or risk falling foul of the 2003 Female Genital Mutilation Act. 

SOURCE: The Telegraph