OB/GYN Original interview

This INterview was made By Kari Oakes to Klau

She also send Kari the full interview made by Motherboard, also the Diagonal interview translated

Q5 (most important one!) Please tell me what you would like me to know, and what you would like me to communicate to American gynecologists.

"We can transform the meaning of the word "cure". We can transform the role of knowledge. We can be human." 
Salvatore Iaconesi

This is tan Open source health & Open Data statement

Medical language needs to be translated, adapted to our bodies and experiences, not statistics or protocols. Have to be comprehensible and close. We need to know and understand, that information should be public, readable, translated and open. Clinical protocols, standards of diagnosis, info-graphics. Should be available.

When we reach to understand, why this or that analysis or test, what they involve (time, side effects, technologies) to be complete informed about treatments medicines that are involved, alternatives to them, not only “you must” prescriptions, or a personal moral statement of the doctor. Only like this, consent invasive treatments, risky procedures, devastating consequences or even prohibited economic bills, will be OUR consent.

Technologies should be close and easiest, updated and challenging (condoms changing colours v/s laboratory expensive diagnosis, male-contraception investigation v/s woman being bombarded with hormones, pelvic floor empowerment v/s massive incontinence surgeries, vasectomy choices v/s abortion non choices) Medical memory has to be reset critically, the “fathers” of OB/GYN should be showed in context, not like heroes or saints. We will not honour the macabre heritage of them, we will be critically using what they left but never forgetting or sharing how they get a place in medical history.

We will honour our lost: witches healers, unknown bodies. Is an urge to talk about them and the value that they sadly gave to science.

If waiting rooms are getting emptier, what a doctor will feel? I imagine that for me will be happiness to see that people is not getting sick for example. But if is cause people don't feel comfortable in a body-office. Maybe something has to change.

If health systems prefer to stay as they are, and look like some sort of vatican inquisition. We will be the new heresy. If they refuse to change, approach, improve, heal! We are going to change it anyway. WE ARE DOING IT.

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"Q1 I read the accounts of your collective's efforts with a lot of interest. Do you think that most women in Westernized countries, like in Europe, Canada, US, are interested in having better body awareness and having more tools for self diagnosis and treatment?

in my experience theres interest of course gynepunk gets feedback from many contries, groups. there's anarchist all over =) is not much about the interes the difficult thing is to go for it. to empower local networks, make nets, talk with others.

"Q2 Where would you place the work you are doing relative to other feminist efforts of the past 50 years, for example, the Boston Women's Health Book Collective and: Our Bodies, Ourselves?

place it? dont know... the place is right now. influenced by them of course, and all the incredible heritage coming from thewitches, from every feminist health gruop we know...

"Q3 As Cyborg Witches, how are you blending ancient practices and knowledge with modern technology and the capacity for DIY that now exists?

trough the hacking. akelarric gathering, trough hackmeetings, trough transhackfeminist gatherings.

"Q4 I interviewed a US male gynecologist, who thinks that it's a very good idea that women have better tools and knowledge for diagnosis and treatment of many common conditions. He said a couple of interesting things :If our offices do not feel welcoming to women, and they don't feel accepted and safe, then that's a problem. This is important." "Also, he said that he thinks the trends toward telemedicine and greater patient empowerment that we are seeing in the US mean that at least the technologic aspects of your work would fit very well with some of those efforts. What is your reaction to his statements?

NO time for finish.. the interview was in a journalist rush but in some way included in the first one Q5

the final article