For protection and proof of her right to practice": female practitioners and medical regulation in early modern Spain

In early modern Spain, the crown intervened extensively in public health matters both to meet its social welfare obligations and to extend its authority over municipalities. State oversight of medical practice brought a number of female practitioners into more direct contact with royal authorities. My research explores medical malpractice suits, royal petitions, and prosecutorial evidence involving female practitioners engaged in an array of medical specializations. State oversight of medical regulation created opportunities for female practitioners; it also targeted them as a threat to public welfare. They often willingly participated in the seemingly restrictive legal regulations of medical practice in order to uphold and even advance their professional standing. The contradictory nature of medical legislation and the unclear jurisdictional limits of the Tribunal often favored female practitioners, as in the case of María Hernández, who was licensed to practice as a bone-setter. Despite practicing without a license for a number of years, María felt compelled to obtain the proper license “at the request of her patients.” To what extent were female practitioners like María forced to comply with licensure regulations by competitors or patients who demanded proof of skill and expertise? How did licenses enable female practitioners to overcome gender barriers in the marketplace? Did licensure make them more visible to authorities? Women were disproportionately prosecuted for medical irregularities: why? This project seeks to answer these questions and provide a framework for understanding the impact of state intervention on the professional activities  and perceptions of women healers.