Section 204A — Crimes Act 1961: Female genital mutilation

204A Female genital mutilation (1) For the purposes of this section,— Female genital mutilation means the excision, infibulation, or mutilation of the whole or part of the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris of any person midwife means a health practitioner who is, or is deemed to be, registered with the Midwifery Council established by section 114(3) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 as a practitioner of the profession of midwifery. midwife: this definition was inserted, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48). See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions. Registered midwife [Repealed] Registered midwife: this definition was repealed, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48). See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions. Sexual reassignment procedure means any surgical procedure that is performed for the purposes of altering (whether wholly or partly) the genital appearance of a person to the genital appearance of a person of the opposite sex Trainee health professional means any person who is receiving training or gaining experience under the supervision of— (a) A medical practitioner for the purpose of gaining registration as a medical practitioner; or (b) A midwife for the purpose of gaining registration as a midwife. Trainee health professional: paragraph (b) of this definition was amended, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48) by omitting the word “ registered ” in both places where it occurred. See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions. (2) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who performs, or causes to be performed, on any other person, any act involving female genital mutilation. (3) Nothing in subsection (2) of this section applies in respect of— (a) Any medical or surgical procedure (including a sexual reassignment procedure) that is performed on any person— (i) For the benefit of that person's physical or mental health; and (ii) By a medical practitioner: (b) Any medical or surgical procedure that is performed on any person— (i) While that person is in labour or immediately after that person gives birth; and (ii) For the benefit of that person's health or the health of the child; and (iii) By a medical practitioner or a midwife or a trainee health professional, or by any other person in any case where the case is urgent and no medical practitioner or midwife or trainee health professional is available. (4) In determining, for the purposes of subsection (3) of this section, whether or not any medical or surgical procedure is performed on any person for the benefit of that person's physical or mental health, no account shall be taken of the effect on that person of any belief on the part of that person or any other person that the procedure is necessary or desirable as, or as part of, a cultural, religious, or other custom or practice. (5) Nothing in subsection (3) of this section limits or affects any enactment or rule of law relating to consent to any medical or surgical procedure or treatment. (6) It is no defence to a charge under this section that the person on whom the act involving female genital mutilation was performed consented to that act, or that the person charged believed that such consent had been given. (7) No person shall be charged as a party to an offence committed upon her against this section. Sections 204A and 204B were inserted, as from 1 January 1996, by section 3 Crimes Amendment Act 1995 (1995 No 49). Subsection (3)(b)(iii) was amended, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48) by omitting the word “ registered ” in both places where it occurred. See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.