What a sad chapter in our nation's history.

[kijip]

Warning: link mentions a reproductive loss

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/06/22/eveningnews/main20073457.shtml

I knew that forced sterilizations happened but I had not very often heard the story of someone in specific. How horrible. My mother's older sister was worked to the bone in a home for unwed mothers in the 1960s (think scrolling stairs with toothbrushes even though the stairs were clean), lost the baby due to miscarriage and then the doctor botched the d&c and she had to have a hysterectomy as a teenager. Later in life she adopted three kids so she was able to become a mother and start a family, but I know the experience and loss of fertility caused her a lot of grief. I can only assume it would be that much worse if the sterilization was mandated and forced by the state.

[MelissaTC]

This story is local to me. You would not believe the number of people on the local site that have stated things like "too bad it happened to you but it was a long time ago." The attitude is sickening.

[DietCokeLover]

I had no idea. How horrific.

[BabyMine]

This story is local to me. You would not believe the number of people on the local site that have stated things like "too bad it happened to you but it was a long time ago." The attitude is sickening.

How can they be so callous? I'm sure if it had happened to their mother or sister they would have a different view. What is it about laws that turn against women? Government needs to stay out of our vagina/uterus. I can't imagine her pain and anger and she has every right to be. We always hear stories about atrocities from third world countries but very few know we had/have them here.

[smiles33]

This horrifies me, too. I cannot imagine being 14, a victim of a predator neighbor, and then sterilized by the very doctors I turned to for help.

[maestramommy]

That is just unbelievable. Even more shocking that it was fairly recent. The poor woman, she has every right to be angry.

[DebbieJ]

$20,000? That is an insult.

[MelissaTC]

$20,000? That is an insult.

I know. But many locals are concerned with the cost given our state is broke. As someone who has struggled with infertility, I can not even imagine my reproductive rights taken away from me. It is a scary proposition.

[marymoo86]

I agree it was horrific. But why did the grandmother give consent. Did I skip over it? Admittedly I just skimmed the article.

If the family was coerced that would've been even worse.

[daisymommy]

She was illiterate and did not know what she was signing. She signed her name with an X (meaning she did not know how to write her own name).

Which also means the doctors did not really get "informed consent".

[kijip]

I agree it was horrific. But why did the grandmother give consent. Did I skip over it? Admittedly I just skimmed the article.

If the family was coerced that would've been even worse.

I really don't think that anyone should be able to consent for a young woman in this sort of case. And an X on a page? Doesn't sound like informed consent even if the grandmother should have been able to give consent.

I don't think that any amount of money can repair this wound.

I get people upset about the budget implications of this bill but I am disgusted by all the comments pro-sterilizing people against their will on the CNN website. News comments are never good, so I generally don't look.