Mum of 9 Files Lawsuit Claiming Her Reproductive Rights Were Violated When She Was Sterilised Without Her Consent

[Earlybird]

This emotive story is beginning to gain national play, and is causing an ethical, moral, social and economic discussion in America.

Many say what the lawsuit claims occurred was/is barbaric, but the Mum's personal past has become a sticking point in the court of public opinion.

Background highlights:

• Mum had her first baby at 13, and quit school at the same time
• Mum has 9 children from four men - first two when she was a teenager, subsequent 7 were conceived while in 2 long term relationships.
• Mum has never been employed and receives financial aid from the state for 2 of the 4 children who live with her (the other 2 are supported financially by their father)
• Grandmother has custody of 3 of the children, who live with grandmother
• Mum has a litigation history having sued a chain of chemists in 2001 claiming they sold her an expired spermicide which failed to prevent a pregnancy (she won)
• - Mum was sterilised when she was 35, so in theory, had quite a few reproductive years ahead of her.

Part of why the story is beginning to get national attention is the overwhelming outpouring of angry public sentiment toward the Mum.

Extremists hail the doctors as 'heroes'.

More measured/moderate opinions are finding it difficult to defend the Mum because 'rights come with responsibility' and this Mum has been 'irresponsible' by continuing to have children she cannot afford to raise.

news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?&articleid=1222682&format=&page=2&listingType=Loc#articl eFull

What is your view?

Yes tethersend they could but that isn't the reason the would be being assessed is it. If you are trying to get me to talk about SN I won't for the reasons I outlined above.

No that's not my argument I HAVE NO WISH TO DEBATE THIS ISSUE WITH REGARDS TO PEOPLE WITH SN. If you wantto do that start a new thread.

It is true that not everyone is competant to be a parent, we are not all competant in everything and parenting is one of these things but who the hell makes this judgement???

My sensibilities are not offended because of this fact it's just that this arguement you present has an end game but no substance on the way up.

Please tell me where do the panels of people come from. magistrates? mothers? mps? It just doesn't seem like a fully formed theory you are putting forward.

You still have no more reproductive rights than any other woman. What was your position on forced abortion?

No Dittany I can no more see myself abusing children or having 9 children by various men, than I can see myself being a murderer or a burglar.

No dittany but I can decide what I want to debate.

I'm not trying to get you to talk about SN- you are talking about it. You have ignored a significant part of society in your plan, and it weakens your proposal, as your plan directly affects those with greatest difficulties.

FWIW, I work with children in care- I am not naive as to what goes on; many paedophiles deliberately start families in order to abuse the children. Society doesn't always find out who they are. The paedophile with SN who doesn't necessarily have the wherewithal to cover his actions is far more likely to be caught and put before your panel.

Explain then that 'you don't want to talk about SN'.

dittany - I knwo from your previous postings that I have little in common with you as regards moral or political issues so forgive me if I don't really care what you think.

I strongly suspect this was an accidental sterilisation - ie the doctors messed up and carried out the wrong procedure thinking that she wanted to be sterilised rather than have an IUD inserted - rather than a state conspiracy to stop her having more children.

"No dittany but I can decide what I want to debate."

Err... I'm pretty sure a debate has two sides? Of course, if you want to debate by yourself, go ahead.

"I HAVE NO WISH TO DEBATE THIS ISSUE WITH REGARDS TO PEOPLE WITH SN. If you wantto do that start a new thread."

So, as well as being in charge of who gets to reproduce, you are in charge of this thread? Wow. A little egotistical, no?

tethersend and thh - I have not said at any point that I have any grand plan, it is you who has asked for a "plan". I simply don't agree that it is never acceptable to sterilise someone. If I said I believed in increasing maternity pay would you ask for a fully costed plan?

I'm sorry, lemonadedrinker, I have no wish to discuss maternity pay. Start a new thread if you want to discuss that.

No I am not in charge of the thread but as you say tethersend a debate has two sides and you keep trying to force me to adopt a position on something I have already said I don't have any real opinion on.

I have to agree with dittany on this - these sorts of opinions, especially when someone is involved in social work or whatever it is you do are really worrying.

Your mind is so closed to so many ideas, even those that are hypothetical and God help us all if you were the person in charge of the reproduction panel.

You have refused to answer the question about SN because it is too grey area for you, much easier isn't it to chuck the word paedophile about with Mothers.

This has such serious consequences for liberty and freedom and you just cannot see that at all. I am so impressed by people on here who haven't been blind sided by the paedophile element to this, dittany is right: red herring.

I don't want to discuss maternity pay either it was an example and I am not asking you to give me your opinion on it!

Ok, I am being a little pushy, sorry.

My point is, SN is a huge factor to consider in this debate, and you should develop an opinion on it quickly.

I was being ironic about the maternity pay

Actually thebossofme I completely agree, however, this ensuing debate has been a really interesting one hasn't it?

I just gave an example I wasn't trying to confuse the issues with paedophiles! Sorry if I chose an overly emotive example it's just at the front of my mind at the moment.

tethersend - If you saw some of the families I do you may also chenge your opinion, perhaps not.

lemonadedrinker-

I work with (damaged) children in care, sometimes as well as their families. Is that what you meant?

Good that you assumed my naivety, though.

Maybe I should tethersend but I haven't at the moment!

sorry tethersend I meant THH I got you confused.

tethersand, yes SN is a huge factor and must come into play with this debate. Lemonade, you have to appreciate that what you are saying is very offensive to most thinking people so when you say you think some people should be sterilised then surely you have to explain how you would arrive at who gets the chop? It just makes sense, not a fully costed plan but some idea of how ethically such a controversial idea would be implemented.