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Eugenic States

Eugenics Sterilization Pamphlet Transcript

The Eugenics
Sterilization Program
in
North Carolina

What is the purpose of the sterilization program in North Carolina?
The sterilization program as it is administered in North Carolina is intended to protect persons from parenthood whose impairments seriously handicap them from assuming the responsibilities of parents.
What are the legal provisions for the sterilization program?
The North Carolina sterilization law provides for the sterilization of persons who are either mentally ill, or mentally retarded. In addition to either one of these impairments, it must be shown as the result of social, medical, psychiatric, and psychological study that sterilization is applicable to the needs of the particular individual.
Where can the individual go for help in planning this operation?
Application can be made through the county departments of public welfare, the State hospitals for the mentally ill, and the State centers for the mentally retarded. These agencies and institutions are directly responsible for planning with the individual for the operation of sterilization.
How are the rights of the individual protect?
The law protects the individual in that it requires the written consent of the husband or wife or the nearest relative. It also provides for the right of a hearing and appeal. These latter rights are seldom exercised due to the fact that the individual, husband or wife, or close relative participate in the plan and make their own decision in favor of the operation before signing the formal consent.
Are the petitioner, physician, and the hospital protected?
The act provides that no person legal participating in sterilization proceedings as defined under the law shall be liable, either civilly or criminally, on account of such participation except in cases of negligence in performance of the operation.
Who administers the sterilization program?
The program is administered by the Eugenics Board of North Carolina with the assistances of an Executive Secretary. The Board is composed of five members: The Commissioner of Public welfare of North Carolina; the Director of the State Board of Health; Commissioner of Mental Health; a Superintendent of a State hospital; and the Attorney General of North Carolina.
What are the functions of the Board?
The Board reviews petitions for sterilization and orders or disapproves the operation. These petitions are submitted by the superintendents of State hospitals, and superintendents of centers for the mentally retarded. The Board also promotes an educational program with emphasis on the interpretation of the program in terms of the value of sterilization to the particular individual.

Contents of this annotation:

The Eugenics Sterilization Program in North Carolina 1. What is the purpose of the sterilization program in North Carolina? The sterilization program as it is administered in North Carolina is intended to protect persons from parenthood whose impairments seriously handicap them from assuming the responsibilities of parents. 2. What are the legal provisions for the sterilization program? The North Carolina sterilization law provides for the sterilization of persons who are either mentally ill, or mentally retarded. In addition to either one of these impairments, it must be shown as the result of social, medical, psychiatric, and psychological study that sterilization is applicable to the needs of the particular individual. 3. Where can the individual go for help in planning this operation? Application can be made through the county departments of public welfare, the State hospitals for the mentally ill, and the State centers for the mentally retarded. These agencies and institutions are directly responsible for planning with the individual for the operation of sterilization. 4. How are the rights of the individual protect? The law protects the individual in that it requires the written consent of the husband or wife or the nearest relative. It also provides for the right of a hearing and appeal. These latter rights are seldom exercised due to the fact that the individual, husband or wife, or close relative participate in the plan and make their own decision in favor of the operation before signing the formal consent. 5. Are the petitioner, physician, and the hospital protected? The act provides that no person legal participating in sterilization proceedings as defined under the law shall be liable, either civilly or criminally, on account of such participation except in cases of negligence in performance of the operation. 6. Who administers the sterilization program? The program is administered by the Eugenics Board of North Carolina with the assistances of an Executive Secretary. The Board is composed of five members: The Commissioner of Public welfare of North Carolina; the Director of the State Board of Health; Commissioner of Mental Health; a Superintendent of a State hospital; and the Attorney General of North Carolina. 7. What are the functions of the Board? The Board reviews petitions for sterilization and orders or disapproves the operation. These petitions are submitted by the superintendents of State hospitals, and superintendents of centers for the mentally retarded. The Board also promotes an educational program with emphasis on the interpretation of the program in terms of the value of sterilization to the particular individual.