James Caird Burt (August 29, 1921 – 2012) graduated from the University of Rochester School of Medicine in 1945, then served an internship at Hermann Hospital in Houston, followed by residencies at hospitals affiliated with the University of Chicago and Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. After serving as a captain in the Air Force medical corps, he began his gynecology and obstetrical practice in Dayton in 1951.
Believing women were structurally inadequate for intercourse and that women’s pathological condition could be treated with surgery, Burt began performing without consent a type of genital mutilation surgery he coined "love surgery" in 1966. However, his procedures caused sexual dysfunction, infection and the need for corrective surgery in many patients. In 1988, women subjected to the procedure came forward, eventually initiating several lawsuits. He voluntarily surrendered his medical license in January 1989, thereby avoiding a medical board hearing which might have uncovered more evidence against him. He subsequently divorced and declared bankruptcy due to the victim lawsuits totaling $21 million.
The James Burt Papers (0.75 linear feet) contains material related to Burt and his career.
The collection is open to the public and is available for viewing in the Medical Heritage Center. Materials do not circulate and must be used in the supervised reading room. Restrictions, including copyright, may exist and some materials may be too fragile to photocopy or digitize. The MHC charges for duplication services, which must be performed by staff.
[Identification of item], James Burt Papers, SPEC.202001.BURT, Medical Heritage Center, Health Sciences Library, The Ohio State University.