Eeva Lätti seeks justice for inadequate compensation for genital injuries in Finland

Eeva Lätti, a 59-year-old woman, experienced severe complications following a spinal surgery 15 years ago, resulting in permanent numbness and chronic nerve pain. The numbness has made it impossible for her to experience physical arousal, profoundly affecting her personal relationships. Lätti sought compensation for her injuries from the Patient Insurance Centre, but was disappointed to find that her genital injuries were classified at a low impairment level of 2.

Rainer Hiltunen, the Equality Ombudsman, criticized this classification as inadequate regarding women’s sexual health and requested an inquiry from the ministry about how these determinations were made. Lätti’s case highlights discrepancies in how genital injuries are categorized, noting that there are three different impairment classes for men’s erection issues, yet no classification exists for women’s genital injuries.

The current classification system was originally designed for job-related injuries, leading to a lack of proper assessment for women’s health issues. Factors contributing to the absence of women’s genital injuries in the classification include historical difficulties in measuring such injuries and a focus on measurable physical impairments.

Eventually, Lätti’s injury was classified at level 4, providing her with compensation nearly three years post-surgery. She expressed concern that the classification system’s failure to address women’s needs reflects underlying societal attitudes, suggesting that there is an implication that it suffices for women to simply be physically open, without recognizing their sexual wellbeing.

The discussion around these classifications underscores a broader issue regarding the treatment and understanding of women’s health within medical and insurance frameworks. Future updates to the impairment classification system may be warranted as awareness grows.