Anarcha Westcott


Anarcha Westcott was an enslaved American woman who was forced to undergo a series of painful experimental surgical procedures by J. Marion Sims to treat a combination of vesicovaginal fistula and rectovaginal fistula, without her consent or the use of anesthesia.

Background

Little is known about Westcott and what is known comes from records kept by the plantation slave owner, medical journals written about Sims' work, and primary documents written by Sims himself. At the time of her pregnancy Westcott was a seventeen-year-old girl living in Alabama. She had a severe form of rickets caused by a lack of vitamin D and malnutrition, which had disfigured her pelvis, making it impossible for her to give birth. She went into labor during June 1845 and after trying to give birth for three days, Sims showed up to assist her in her labor.

Surgery on her fistula

After the birth, Westcott was brought back to Sims because she had several unhealed tears in her vagina and rectum – a vesicovaginal fistula and rectovaginal fistula. These tears caused her to have excruciating pain, which was from her uncontrollable bowel movements flowing through her open wounds. Being unable to control her bowel movements led to infections, inflamed tissue, and odor. This made Westcott a prime victim for Sims to perform experimental surgeries on, as fistulas were fairly common among the enslaved due to malnutrition and their younger age, as they were more likely to have children three years earlier than white women because of rape from White men.
Sims performed 30 unwanted experimental operations on Westcott before successfully closing the fistula and tears. During the procedures, Westcott was given no anesthesia, which had recently become available. Following the procedures, Sims administered opium, which was then an accepted therapeutic practice.

Remembrance

Sims is remembered as a horrific figure in the 20th century due to his experimental surgery on innocent black women, and operating without anesthesia.
A small statue of Anarcha was erected by protestors near the statue of Sims on the grounds of the Alabama State Capitol. It was quickly stolen.