When confronted with the phrase “illegal sterilization,” images of crude, clinical techniques often come to mind but are immediately shelved away.
After all, it’s 2013 and a barbaric practice like forced sterilization has been out of the public eye for decades, since the repealing of a law in 1979 effectively banned the practice in the State of California.
Or so it was believed.
Last week, the Center for Investigative Reporting issued a report that found that more than 148 illegal sterilization procedures were performed between 2006 and 2010 in women’s prisons.
While the 1979 sterilization law prevents doctors from pressuring female inmates to receive the procedure during childbirth, procedures still took place nonetheless.
While sterilization can still be performed, it must be done with the full consent of the individual or with approval from the state.
Instead, some doctors performed procedures on women who had multiple children or were deemed likely to be a repeat offender with the argument that the procedures had been carried out only in the event of a “medical emergency,” according to the report.
From 1997 to 2010, the State of California paid $147,460 to doctors who performed sterilization procedures in prisons.
Dr. James Heinrich from Valley State Prison in Chowchilla, Calif., was interviewed by the CIR for the report.
Heinrich defended the sterilization procedures from a sociologically financial standpoint.
“Over a 10-year period, that isn’t a huge amount of money,” Heinrich said to the ICR, “compared to what you save in welfare paying for these unwanted children — as they procreated more.”
Heinrich’s message is a chilling reminder from California’s dark history, which included laws that began in support of eugenics programs dating back more than a century ago.
According to the CIR report, Heinrich justified the procedures by saying he provided “an important service to poor women who faced health risks in future pregnancies.”
Due to employee confidentiality laws, it is unknown if Heinrich was ever placed under review for the procedures he performed.
Although the issue did make some headlines, outrage over the sterilizations should be more prominent.
Doctors abusing their privileges should be held liable for their actions.
Instead of reversing medical progress in the state, California lawmakers should further investigate the issue brought forth by the CIR and bring criminal charges if necessary.
Nicolas Rodriguez is a senior political science major and an assistant opinions editor at the Daily 49er.