Eugenic Sterilization Law - Essay Example

Criminology Criminology Eugenics is a scientific theory of selective procreation in human beings with the aim of improving theirgenetic qualities. Scientists argued that some traits such as poverty, prostitution, crime, alcoholism and birth defects could be as a result of defective genes which could be eliminated through enforcement of eugenic sterilization law (“The Sterilization of America,”2002). Eugenic sterilization law was first exercised in America following the Supreme Court ruling by Oliver Wendell Holmes in Buck v.

Bell case. Holmes’s decision, which is today referred to as a shameful decision, had inferior populace in United States, experience one of the most ruthless and inhuman abuse by the government. In 1924, Carrie Buck a teenager mother was accused in a court of law for bearing a child outside wedlock and that her child would probably be socially inadequate. Ms. Buck, whose feeble-minded mother had been admitted in the state colony of epileptics and feeble-minded, was the first American to face eugenic sterilization law.

Harry Laughlin’s authentication about Ms. Buck and her child and Eugenic Record Office testimony about her child’s disorder made the court rule in favor of the states (“The Sterilization of America,”2002). She appealed for a review on the case but the Supreme Court also ruled in favor of the state. Basing his argument on the fact that Ms. Buck was feeble-minded, chief justice Oliver W. Holmes ordered superintendent Bell to go ahead and perform salpingectomy operation on Carrie Buck. He concluded that, it was better for the entire world if unfit human breeds were wiped from the society instead of waiting for them, to bear offspring and execute them for crimes.

Later, Paul Lombardo a historian in the University of Virginia found out that, apart from Miss Buck’s child turning out to be a very bright student at 7 years old, Buck had been raped. Following this, Eugenic Record Office was forced to close and with time eugenicists’ claims were disapproved by other scientists. This decision had also contributed to more than 65,000 inferiors being forcefully sterilized between 1927 and 1979. United States government has since then been holding annual anniversaries to apologize for the shameful Buck decision.

Although currently eugenic sterilization law is not practiced in America, eugenic is still practiced especially in political issues such as immigration quotas and scientific research such as embryo research and cloning of humans (“The Sterilization of America,”2002). According to The Sterilization of America (2002), Miss Buck’s case brings to our attention, that genetic study such as heredity is not sufficient to justify court’s decision on Bucks’ case or any other case similar to this.

There is no dispute that genetic composition might contribute to crimes but then it is not the only aspect that may led to crime. A court would be unfair to base any legal decisions on genetic research and fail to consider possibility of other reasons. In some cases a victim may have a genetic condition that was not inherited from parent or his or her family may have a condition but the victim is not affected. For example, Buck’s child in this case happened not to be like her feeble-minded mother.

In conclusion, it is important to respect God’s will because by enforcing eugenic sterilization law with the aim of improving human breed would be trying to correct Gods creation. In addition, there is an alarming need to control the impact of biometric practices such as facial recognition, hand, finger, and eye scanning and most importantly designer test tube babies. This action may in future contribute to a repeat of Bucks situation. Reference n.a. (2002). The Sterilization of America.

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