Misinformed Consent

[Guest guest]

http://www.redflagsweekly.com/billboard1.htm

 

Misinformed Consent will be featured on the season

opener for the CBC’s The Nature of Things with David

Suzuki in September. Details about the show, which

will also be broadcast internationally, follow the

article.

 

August 17, 2004

 

MISINFORMED CONSENT

 

A book about Women Turning their Pain into Power

 

By Red Flags Columnist Lise Cloutier-Steele

 

Before the publication of Misinformed Consent –

Women’s Stories about Unnecessary Hysterectomy , two

prominent medical experts who reviewed it said that my

book idea wouldn’t fly. They wanted me to show a more

“balanced” overview of the topic by including stories

by women singing the praises of hysterectomy and ovary

removal.

 

Actually, I thought of doing that in the beginning. I

wanted to be fair, but the women I contacted for

positive testimonials wouldn’t hear of contributing to

a book project whose objective was to show that not

all hysterectomies result in a happy ending. Some of

these women were insulted that I even thought to ask

them!

 

So I opted to put together a book with content

supporting the title throughout, usually a good move

with any writing project. Then the idea for

Misinformed Consent became the first book of its kind

with 38 endorsements from medical or other experts

from all over the world.

 

Misinformed Consent delivered on its two very

important objectives: the first, to help women make an

informed decision about hysterectomy and ovary

removal, and the second, to impress upon the medical

community that women need less invasive alternatives.

Its publication was long overdue.

 

Through the women’s stories, and the research

supporting their claims, I presented a balanced

overview of the many things that can go wrong before,

during and after these procedures. The time was right

to show the flip side. On that front alone, the idea

is working well, because since its publication, it has

prompted many women to take charge of their own

health.

 

The stories are moving, honest and inspiring. The

women stood tall and strong, and they had the courage

to say that hysterectomy, ovary removal and hormone

replacement therapy can lead to serious difficulties.

For some, breaking the wall of silence about their

experience was a tremendous barrier to overcome, but

their determination to prevent others from harm

prevailed.

 

Selling this package was a journey in itself. Though

there was serious interest from dozens of publishing

companies, it took me a little over two years of

networking on a full-time basis to find a publisher

for the first edition. It was challenging work, and at

times frustrating, but I have to admit, rewarding just

the same. I made good use of the helpful tips from

each rejection, and fine tuned my proposal accordingly

until I finally made it happen in Canada in 2002 and

then a year later in the U.S.

 

Since I started working with Barbara Kimmel at Next

Decade, Inc. of New Jersey , publisher of the U.S.

edition of Misinformed Consent , I have learned a lot

more about the business aspect of publishing and

marketing a book. I try to split my work evenly

between the support activities and the promotions to

keep the book in view, and I have no plans of quitting

any day soon.

 

Barbara feels strongly that public awareness about

unnecessary hysterectomy is increasing. “As media

interest on this subject continues to gain momentum”,

she says, “books that raise awareness, like

Misinformed Consent , should continue to sell well for

many years to come.”

 

I guess this means that up until now, the women of

Misinformed Consent have just been getting warmed up!

 

 

 

Important Announcement

 

Don’t forget to watch the CBC’s season opener for The

Nature of Things with David Suzuki on Thursday,

September 16, 7 PM , EST. The one-hour documentary

film is titled Sex, Lies and Secrecy: Assessing

Hysterectomy , and promises to be the most

enlightening show ever done on the subject. For more

details about the show featuring Misinformed Consent,

go to: www.misinformedconsent.com and click on TV

Special. The show will air in Canada first, then

internationally and in the U.S. in early 2005. Air

dates will be published at my web site as I receive

them from the CBC.

 

Lise Cloutier-Steele is a communications specialist

and a professional writer and editor. She is the

author of Living and Learning with a Child Who

Stutters , and the recipient of a Canada 125 Award in

recognition of a significant contribution to the

community and to Canada for her volunteer efforts to

help children who stutter and their parents. She is

also the author of MISINFORMED CONSENT- WOMEN’S

STORIES ABOUT UNNECESSARY HYSTERECTOMY , and she has

appeared on Canada AM, the Women's Television Network

(now W), The Phil Donahue Show, The Body and Health

Show, and several other media to talk about this

important women’s health topic.

 

 

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