Do you think mentally defective people should be sterilized?

Question

Some people I know think it'd be a good thing for society if that were done. I'm not too sure.

Answer 1

This was attempted in our society in the past, and the results were terrible. Look up the name Carrie Buck in wikipedia or something, and search around for the sterilization laws that were officially in place for Virginia until the 1970's. This is an amazing part of American history that the average person as no idea about. The state of Virginia decided to sterilized those who were judged not only to be "feeble minded", but also those who were judged to be promiscuous, or in the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes, an "imbecile".

Listen, I cannot stress how strongly this would negatively effect people who think themselves above it. If the people you know who think this isn't a bad idea can argue in the face of history, then I don't know what to tell you.

Answer 2

What a can of worms! And there are no easy blanket one-size-fits-all answers.

There are many causes and degrees of impairment. A person can be mildly mentally handicapped and be capable of caring for a child quite well and understanding the responsibility entailed with a little help. If such an individual can understand the issues regarding childbirth, has a supportive spouse, and wants to have a child, why not?

On the other hand a person can be impaired to the degree that they are unable to understand the birth process or even to make informed choices regarding sexual activity. Sadly, there are some sick individuals within our society who will molest young women who are unable to grasp basic concepts regarding sex and the birth process and it would be hugely traumatic for some young mentally handicapped women to have a baby.

Like you, I'm not too sure. I personally feel that what is best for the individual person in question should always be the primary concern in any decision reached, not what is best for society. If it's a case where pregnancy would be a danger to the emotional or physical well being of a person with a mental handicap I would not be adverse to sterilization, as it's done to benefit that person. And there are methods other than surgical sterilization that can be used that would be less invasive and still prevent them from undergoing a birth that they would not understand and be frightening to them, like birth control shots every 3 months or one of the implantable methods of contraception which can be performed in a doctor's office.

Answer 3

That is a really good idea because the govenment can use that as a penalty for people that disagree with them. Then people will not act up for fear that they will be sterilized. Is this the USA side this question is comming from? It sure does not seem like it. Perhaps you should read Brave New World and Orwells 1984 and see if you still want to ask this question.

Perhaps you should read all about Nazi germany and the arian race because you have been asking so many questions. You can read about the demented artists that hitler had killed. Before you think of sterilizing someone ask yourself if you would like that penalty because of any reason or no reason.

Do some reading and expand your world view. Be careful what you wish for. It might just come true for those people as well as you.

Answer 4

Who gets to say who's the defective one? Personally I'd choose the bigots and the hate mongers. But then you'd apparently chose the non-violent properly medicated members of society who aren't hurting you at all. And technically ADD/ADHD is a mental defect...and we're labeling our children with that one at a prodigious rate. So realistically it would be a wonderful way to reduce the population quickly. OOH and while we're at it....diabetes, some forms of cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc are also genetically linked. Might as well sterilize those bastards as well...just screwing our gorgeous little gene pool all the heck. And the poor! SCREW THEM TOO!! You of course should be making at least $100,000 a year per partner before you're even allowed to think about conceiving. Just how many of the criteria that would eventually be made would your parents have passed? Would you yourself pass?

Answer 5

Absolutely. People are afraid of asking questions like this because of course it's not politically correct or whatever... The way I see it, there would be a lot less burden on society as a whole without children being born to people to can't handle the responsiblity of raising children and can't even make good decisions for themselves. I wonder why the emphasis on keeping the severely mentally ill out of hospitals and expecting them to blend into the mainstream, when for the majority of these people, it's proven not to work. There's a large portion of severely mentally ill people who are not productive members of society and should be given a place where they can live in isolation, and definitely not be allowed to have kids.

Answer 6

If that were the case, I would be sterilized, if based on things like mental illness, apart from a broad definition of "defective." I've had an already terrible life of depression and negativity, and if someone were to come up to me and tell me that I should be sterilized, it would just be one thing after another. "When it rains, it pours."

So, if society wants to do this, bring it on.

Answer 7

Euthanaia? If you are talking about those who are incompetent to make their own decisions about health, and those who are dying from a terminal illness and those who are on life support. Yes. Those on life support are dying anyway. It's just like the Terri Shiavo case. She couldn't live a copetent life, nor contribute to society. She was wasting tax dollars. Those who are copetent and are dying from a terminal illness should be able to make their own decisions about life and death. You can't kill to get rid of disease, poverty or mental retardation. That just makes it wrong. If you are talking about those who are competent, but have mental illnesses, have you lost your mind? Those who have mental illnesses can still contribute to society if they are going through the proper treatment. Otherwise, the decision should be solely up to the person. We need a functional and well maintained society.

Answer 8

I am appalled at the way you ask the question. You sound as if you are from a 'class' of people that have no problems with your brain or mind, from time to time.

Those who are inclined towards being intellectually/academically 'slow' are still as human as you and me in needs, desires, expectations, etc. Don't for a minute think they are not daily reminded how disadvantaged they are. They are also thinking/feeling people.

I don't judge you for asking the question in the wrong spirit. Perhaps you need to re-think your attitudes re. those with physical, mental, intellectual handicaps. Yes, even do a comparison, and measure if really, we, or those of us who have largely 'intact' brains, body parts, are really that much better off as human beings, in terms of how we think of others less advantaged.

For whatever reasons they are born that way, we need to keep developing them as people as much as we possibly can without impinging upon their God-given needs.

For a start, you may begin to think of your choice of words in speaking of others, perhaps your attitude toward them might change. Then you might begin to be more objective in looking at their plight. Also, try not to generalise them. Get to know a real, live, handicapped person. It will change your life forever if you became a friend to one.

have an insightful x'mas!

:)

Answer 9

So to seriously answer this question, only voluntarily. Believe me, if it was mandated by the Government that this be preformed, the ACLU and every other group you can think of would be all over it. Although it would be "nice" to not have SOME people pro-create, it's unethical to forced them to be sterilized.

Answer 10

Are you possibly related to Hitler or instead of hanging out your sheets to dry, might you possibly wear them for special occasions. Are you not happy that although some people may not agree with your illogical reasoning we as Americans help to protect your right of freedom of speech. What do you consider mentally defective. Some of best friends are mentally defective, is that funny to you? Mental illness is very prevalent. Particularly depression. It is attitudes like yours that hinders people to request most effective treatment.