Published on May 7, 2014 in Opinions By Himerria Wortham <\/p>\n
Women prisoners are taking their babies for a walk. However for some, they have been denied the privilege of walking their own child. Courtesy of MCT <\/p>\n
The CaliforniaSenate Health Committee was presented with a bill onApril 2that aims to close loopholes that allowed for the sterilization of women prisoners without state approval. <\/p>\n
While this bill has not been passed yet, it is a step toward preventing the unjust treatment of women behind bars and raising further awareness of an issue reminiscent of old horrific California eugenics practices. <\/p>\n
From 2006 to 2010, at least 148 women were sterilized in state prisons without California state approval, according to the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR). <\/p>\n
Women who experienced sterilization abuse by prison health caregivers worked together with the human rights organization, Justice Now, on the California Prison Sterilization Prohibition bill, in an effort to strengthen already existing laws. <\/p>\n
The sterilization procedure, called tubal ligation, was conducted by doctors under contract with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations. Women who were housed in the California Institution for Women in Corona or Valley State Prison for Women were sterilized during the five-year period. <\/p>\n
In many of the cases, the obstetricians would ask for consent while the heavily sedated women were giving birth or being operated on. Some of the former inmates felt as though they were being coerced into the procedure by medical staff who believed the women were likely to return to prison. <\/p>\n
At Valley State Prison in Chowchilla, obstetrician James Heinrich performed sterilizations on inmates. He said he performed important procedures on the poor prisoners, giving them the empowerment that women on the outside have to protect themselves from health risks in future pregnancies due to past cesarean sections. In other words, he claimed he is doing them a favor. <\/p>\n
Former inmate Christina Cordero was one of the women that Heinrich targeted. During her pregnancy, Heinrich suggested several times that she follow through with the procedure. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
See the rest here: <\/p>\n
Sterilizing women prisoners is denying a human a life, future and humanity<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Published on May 7, 2014 in Opinions By Himerria Wortham Women prisoners are taking their babies for a walk. However for some, they have been denied the privilege of walking their own child Continue reading