Nora W. Coffey is a women's health advocate, activist, and educator. She founded the
in 1982.
Career
Coffey has lectured in the United States and Europe. She has been a guest lecturer at medical schools, nursing schools for undergraduate, and graduate programs. She has presented papers to Women and Gender Studies Conferences and women’s health organizations. She has also been interviewed by ''
20/20'',
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Gail Winfrey (; born Orpah Gail Winfrey; January 29, 1954), or simply Oprah, is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist. She is best known for her talk show, ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'', br ...
,
Phil Donahue, and ''
Good Morning America
''Good Morning America'' (often abbreviated as ''GMA'') is an American morning television program that is broadcast on ABC. It debuted on November 3, 1975, and first expanded to weekends with the debut of a Sunday edition on January 3, 1993. Th ...
''. Interviews with Coffey have appeared in the ''
New York Times,'' ''
Los Angeles Times,'' ''
Philadelphia Inquirer'', ''
Boston Globe,'' ''
New York Magazine'', ''
Newsweek'', ''
USA Today,'' ''Ms. Magazine,'' and others.
She has testified at
U.S. Food and Drug Administration hearings and works with the FDA to ensure the reporting of adverse events of
uterine artery embolization.
Coffey founded the
in 1982.
The foundation is the only independent,
nonprofit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
organization solely dedicated to the alternatives to, and the aftermath of
hysterectomy
Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. It may also involve removal of the cervix, ovaries (oophorectomy), Fallopian tubes (salpingectomy), and other surrounding structures.
Usually performed by a gynecologist, a hysterectomy may b ...
.
Rick Schweikert's "on becoming," which had its Off-Broadway debut in 2004, was directed by Coffey. It was subsequently seen in 23 cities and produced in Washington, D.C. in 2005. It received praise from
Barbara Seaman, health advocate, and author of ''The Greatest Experiment Ever Performed on Women: Exploding the Estrogen Myth''.
Coffey is working toward a sustainable legal remedy to end hysterectomy without the information requisite to
informed consent
Informed consent is a principle in medical ethics and medical law, that a patient must have sufficient information and understanding before making decisions about their medical care. Pertinent information may include risks and benefits of treatme ...
.
Coffey and Schweikert’s book, ''The H Word'', about the physical, political, economic, and social environment surrounding hysterectomy, was published in 2009.
Coffey was honored by the organization
Women's Way of Philadelphia at their 32nd Annual Powerful Voice Awards on May 6, 2009.
References
External links
New York Times Article "Rate of Hysterectomies Puzzles Experts"*
ttp://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-hysterectomy15aug15,0,2963288.column?coll=la-home-health Los Angeles Times Article "When does hysterectomy go too far?"br>
Boston Globe
FDA testimony
Women's Way
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coffey, Nora
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people
American health activists