Term Paper In Ethics.docx

THE EFFECT OF STERILIZATION AMONG HANDICAPPED OR MENTALLY DISABLED PEOPLE

A Study by Tagalog, Ireneo Jr. (BSME)

In Partial Fulfillment of the Midterm Requirements for the HUM 003 (Ethics)

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The practice of sterilization among the handicapped emerged as a convenient way to avoid unwanted pregnancies. A request for sterilization can develop from concerned parents, professionals, or from the mentally disabled individuals who chose to remain childless. However, some of the mentally handicapped people have been

coerced

to

undergo

sterilization

processes,

leading

to

incapacity to procreate or enjoy other social responsibilities. In medical perspective, sterilization of the handicapped resulting from genetic factors may be necessary to minimize the population of mentally retarded people. Handicapped or mentally disabled people should enjoy the same rights as any other citizen. It is essential for obstetricians and gynecologists to consider ethical issues surrounding sterilization procedures on mentally disabled people, as each individual requires careful considerations before undertaking the process. Sterilization

to

disabled

people

may

save

them

from

discrimination in society. According to Wertz and Fletcher, it is ethically acceptable to undertake sterilization on handicapped persons

to

interests.

limit In

procreation

most

cases,

and

to

disabled

enhance people

their have

own

best

experienced

difficulties while taking care of their offspring, particularly

when none of their family members is physically fit to assist in carry out daily routines at home. If procreation is likely to harm the handicapped, undertaking the sterilization procedure can be ethically justified. Due to their incompetency, mentally disabled people are not responsible for numerous consequences that may emerge due to their conditions. Thus, limiting their rights to procreation should not be perceived as a punishment, but rather a suitable measure to prevent misfortune, as well as family burdens. This would reduce the cost incurred by family members to afford them necessary care. A decision to bear a child, or to prevent childbearing

permanently

are

best

made

while

taking

full

deliberation of the burdens that the disabled person may carry to parenthood.

If

the

cause

of

disability

is

genetic

factors,

sterilization of disabled persons can be permitted to minimize the population of mentally disabled people. The burden of pregnancy may be too heavy for a disabled person, as pregnancy, birth, as well as parenthood may create emotional stress due to loss of sleep, and demand for caring for an infant. It is better for a handicapped person to undergo sterilization process

than

parenting.

In

to

be

left

addition,

alone

to

bear

sterilization

the would

consequences

of

minimize

the

proportion of children with disabilities who require special care, and who experience sadness, depression, and low self-esteem.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY Sterilization is one of the methods of birth control that is available to most American adults, including the handicapped, which involves a surgical procedure to control reproduction for life. The issue of sterilization, particularly to women and girls, stirred a heated debate in the US at the start of the twentieth century due to its social implications. The first sterilization program,

which

occurred

in

Indiana

State

in

1907,

was

non-

voluntary, and this made other states and countries to adopt the procedure. However, doctors usually face challenges when requested to

perform

a

sterilization

procedure

to

mentally

handicapped

individual, who have no capacity to give consent by themselves. Some parents may prefer their mentally disabled children to be sterilized so that they do not worry about those who take care of them. In the initial stages, it appeared as a dreadful idea to propose

sterilization

without

the

consent

of

the

handicapped

person, but later it became a common practice. Sterilization was part

of

the

eugenics,

where

‘undesirable’

humans

would

be

sterilized to avoid producing children that would be equally undesirable. This practice was carried out by the Nazi regime to get rid of hereditary illnesses.

Sterilization affects procreation, thus, may interfere with the moral beliefs of mentally disabled patients, their families, and their personal physicians. Forcing disabled women and girls to undergo sterilization is denying them human rights, which include reproductive rights. A decision on sterilization should be made only when it serves the best interest of the patient. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM This study aims to determine the factors and reasons why should a handicapped or a disabled individual should undergo sterilization. Specifically, it seeks to answer the following sub problems: a. Unwanted Pregnancies or Procreation b. Alarming Population of mentally retarded person c. Hereditary Illnesses d. Discrimination in Society e. Sexual Abuse f. Emotional stress to Parenthood

SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS This work study was conducted last January 10 up to January 12,

2018.

This

study

is

primarily

focus

on

the

effect

of

sterilization among handicapped or mentally disabled persons. This study covers sterilization issues among handicapped or mentally disabled persons. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY This study is significant to the following: To the Parents of the Handicapped or Mentally Disabled person, sterilization serves as a suitable measure to prevent misfortune as well as to be a family burden. To the Handicapped or Mentally Disabled person, preventing to bear a child, considering their ability of incapable of taking good care of themselves, would shun carrying a burden of parenthood during her adulthood. Also Unwanted Pregnancies or Procreations, Sexual Abuse and Discrimination in the Society will not also happened.

DEFINITION OF TERMS Coerced Sterilization occurs when financial or other incentives, misinformation, or intimidation tactics are used to compel an individual to undergo the procedure. Force Sterilization occurs when a person is sterilized after expressly refusing the procedure, without her knowledge or is not given an opportunity to provide consent. Gynecologists is a doctor who focuses on women’s reproductive health. Obstetricians provides surgical care for women during pregnancy and childbirth. They also handle postnatal care. Offspring is a children or young of a particular parent or progenitor. Procreation is the production of offspring. It is often referred as reproduction. Sterilization is a procedure performed to stop fertility permanently, in either male or female. It is a method of birth control reproduction of life. Unwanted Pregnancy is a pregnancy occurred when no children, or no more children, were desired. It is happened when mentally disabled person was sex abuse.