Charges Doctors Arc Sterilizing I'omen
Without llieir Consent
Doctors in a number of major
hospitals around the country are
sterilizing women from
low-income backgrounds who
come in to have babies. The
Progressive magazine charged.
In an article titled "Sterilizing
the Poor," author Claudia
Dreifus reported that many
doctors who had worked, or
were still employed, in' major
medical centers in Chicago, New
York, Los Angeles, San
Francisco and Houston, told her
that they knew of cases where
women had been sterilized
without their consent or on the
basis of misinformation supplied
to them by their physicians.
In an article prepared with a
study grant from the Fund for
Investigative Journalism, the
author said she found women
who had been coerced into
signing forms authorizing
sterilization or who were told
that it would be a simple matter
to reverse a sterilization
operation in the future, if they
so desired. Other women said
they had been drugged before
being asked to sign papers
authorizing tubal ligation.
Despite Federal guidelines
enacted last year against coercive
sterilization, a pediatric intern
formerly at New York's Bellevue
Hospital told author Dreifus
"There was a large Puerto R ican
population and I think a lot of
women didn't know the full
consequences of what was
happening to them. There was a
language problem. Many of the
women thought their tubes
could be untied,"
Another intern, formerly at
UCSF-San Francisco General
Hospital, said of the operation:
"It was always explained -- IF
the patient asked, yes, she'd be
told it was permanent. If there
was a big rush, the staff
wouldn't bother. There was
concern by some of the student
that minority groups were
getting pushed, so the hospital
became very careful. They're
slick now. Although official
policy was changed, the
attitudes of the doctors didn't.
They became slicker at talking One
patients into tubals. Tubals are recently
way up and the birthrate is way school
down."
An intern who had done his
medical school zounds at
UCLA-Cedars of Lebanon
Hospital in Los Angefes, said: "I
did see instances of women in
labor being asked (if they
wanted to be sterilized). I didn't
see any prejudice against
Mexicans or blacks per se, but
the ward patients weren't given
as much information on
sterilization as the private
patients. Often an intern would
say, 'I want to do a tubal.' That
was a big influence in prompting
them to do it - they wanted to
get another tubal under their
belt'
A former medical student
from the University of Chicago,
where the patient population is
primarily black, said, "No one
ever said to a woman, 'We don't
trust you with taking the pill,' it
would be presented very
POSITIVELY. 'This is the best
thing for you. This will be the
easiest thing for us.' Mostly,
we'd approach women with large
families and we'd tell them this
was the best solution. We would
explain the world population
problem."
One doctor who said he had
been trained at Jefferson Davis
Hospital of Baylor Medical
School in Houston, said, 'Our
patient population was 80 per
cent Black, 15 per cent Chicano
and five per cent what you'd call
poor white trash. There wasn't
any racism there. No more than
here (Los Angeles). If a resident
wanted to practice doing a
laparoscopic (tubal ligation),
he'd push it, sure. There was a
basic social pressure that three
children were enough. If a
woman came in with two
intern who had
completed medical
at Wayne State in
Detroit, said, "Most of our
patient population was black,
inner city. We had a lot of
young girls come in , thirteen
and sixteen and they'd have
two or three children. In those
cases, we'd ask 'em, often
when they were in labor, if
they wanted tubal ligations.
There were so many young'
girls and most of them had a
low mentality. We'd tell them
about birth control and they
wouldn't take it. It would get
some of the residents really
mad."
He continued, ' With sixteen
year olds, you needed the
parents' permission. That
usually wasn't hard to get. The
parents weren't in labor. Some
of the parents said, No.! They
liked having the babies around.
Sterilization was offered to
women in labor no matter
what their age. Those over 18
you didn't need the parents's
permission..."
Author Dreifus pointed out
that Federal guidelines against
coercive sterilization
specifically ban sterilizations
on women under 21 years of
age and prohibit operations on
women less than 72 hours
afther they have signed consent
forms. The guidelines also
require a careful counseling
procedure so that patients can
learn that the operation is
permanent and that there are
other birth control choices.
Though a costly operation for
reversal of a tubal ligation
operation exists, it is only
successful in 10 to 20 per cent
of all cases.
An intern formerly at a St.
Louis medical facility, Barnes
Hospital, told author Dreifus
fir, rtrmw m mtcutotmtr
Oah Grove founders' Dtiy.io Do fJofed
Annual Founders Day and dki furthw ttudy it IMon
Services wfll be held at the Oak Theological Seminary in
Grove Free Will Baptist Church Richmond, Virginia.
on Sunday, Feb. 8. The Church
was founded in 1924 by the late
Rev. and Mrs. W. F. Cox. The
speaker for the morning worship
will be Dr. Joseph Bethea,
Director of Black Church
Studies at the Duke Divinity
The Rev. R. L. Fuller and hat
choir and congregation from
Hatchett Grove Baptist Church,
MorrisviDe, will be the guests in
the concluding portion of the
Founders' Day celebration.
During this service, members
School. Dr. Bethea, a native of who paid $50 during the 50th
Dillon, S. C, received his B. A. Anniversary celebration will
degree from Claflin College of receive special honors.
Orangeburg, S. C; Master of The pastor, Rev. Z. D. Harris,
Divinity and Doctor of Divinity and members invite everyone to
from Gammon Theological come and share in both of these
Seminary of Atlanta, Georgia; services.
children and wanted a tubal, we of practices there, ' Whether or
would try to talk her out of it. not a patient was approached
But if a woman came in with positively about sterilization
five children, we'd sell the depended on the doctor's own
operation - sure. Women were approach. A woman on welfare
MAN AT WORK - ST. LOUIS - Transportation Secretary
William Coleman, Jr.. might be described as the kind of executive
who takes care of things personally. He presides January 13th at a
St. Louis hearing about a new airport for the metropolitan area.
Some at the hearing argued that the airport should be built at
Waterloo, III., rather than just expanding facilities at Lambert
Field. The argument about building anew or expansion of the
present facility has "occupied' Missouri and Illinois residents for
years. Coleman set up the hearing so he could listen to all
arguments. (UPI).
Healthco Providing Health
Care For Warren, Vance
Mack America
(Continued From Page 1)
four black workers in the nation
was unemployed.
Gains in homeownership
registered by blacks during the
1960's (from 38 per cent to 42
per cent of black households)
have been eliminated by the
recession that continued into
1975.
- The Administration's
' Benign Neglect" policy toward
social welfare programs
continued during 1975. Its
approach toward social service
programs was consistently
restricted as demonstrated by
the use of the Presidential Veto
threat.
- In 1975 Congress was
unable to enact any substanial
legislation pertaining to
socio-economic programs or
policies that would foster full
employment.
- The outbreaks of racial
violence in Boston - "long
regarded, if incorrectly as the
fountainhead of liberalism in
this country - served notice that
racism has no geographical limits
and continues to exist in the
American body politic'
Concluding the review of the
year, Jordan said:
"All across the board black
people lost out in 1975. We
believe that the social fabric of
our nation is too tenuous to
withstand continuation of the
policies that brought us to the
brink of survival in the last twelve
survival in the last twelve
months. We believe in a 'new
DR. BETHEA
realism' that brings solutions to
our country's problems, rather
than one that worsens those
problems."
SOME
if BUSINESSMEN
If NEVER SEE
II A MAN THEY
II DON'T LIKE
11 IF THEY
CAN AVOID
approached in clinic and
sometimes during labor, sure.
We'd ask a woman in labor, if
her chart wasn't available.
with a large family was more
likely to be approached earlier
than a woman not on welfare.
No one was pushed, though."
West Durham Blossom Club .leers
January 20, Tuesday night,
the West Durham Blossom
Garden Club met at the home of
Miss Stephens, 402 Powe St.
The 'Garden Gate' was
opened by the first
vice-president, Mrs. Gertrude
Gibson, who also presided over
the business session which
followed. During this session
committee reports were heard;
discussions were made on buying
shrubbery for West Durham
Baptist Church and presenting a
plant to a local rest home. A
very interesting report on
' Hanging Baskets" was led by
Mrs. Gertrude McBroom.
Mrs. Gibson thanked the
members who won five blue
ribbons for their entrees at the
Christmas clinic sponsored by
the La Petite Garden Club and
for those who decorated a tree
for sale at an outreach program
sponsored by the Council of
Garden Clubs at Northgate
Shopping Center.
Preceding the business session
a delicious meal was served to
the following: Mesdames
Margaret Allen, Mary Allison,
Margaret Fuller, Gertrude
Gibson, Daisy Gunn, Mary
Morton, Mary Love, Gertrude
McBroom, Naomi Parker,
Georgia Taylor, Gladys
VanHook and Cornetta Williams.
Mrs. Gunn thanked the
hostesses for an enjoyable
evening. The February meeting
will be held at the home of Mrs.
Georgia Taylor on Erie Street.
Airs. Jones Hosfs Ebenezer Floral Club
The Floral Club of Ebenezer
Baptist Church met at the home
of Mrs. Lillie M. Jones, at 4 p.m.
Mrs. Lillie Mclntyre opened the
devotions with a song, prayer by
Mrs. Dorothy VanHook and the
president, Mrs. Addie Barbee
read the poem, ' I'd Rather See
A Sermon."
alter the President made remarks
concerning the duties of the
various committees.
shut-infor some time Mrs. Jones
thanked the club for
remembering her and to come
again. Mesdames Addie Barbee,
The Valentine Party will be Nannie Hamilton and Miss Lillie
held Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. in the M ijpchurch served a lovely
Assembly Room Each member repast assisted by Mrs Beulah
ui uic uu win uiyuc iwfk Morgan. Others present were
HealthCo is the Vance-Warren
Health center, charged with the
responsibility of providing
quality health care services to
the residents of Warren and"
Vance Counties. The United
States Office of Economic
Opportunity awarded a grant to
the Soul City Foundation in
June of 1972 for the purpose of
developing health facilities for
Soul City and neighboring
communities.
Since its inception,
HealthCo's growth has been
steady and progressive. Patient
encounters have increased from
168 per month to 1,029 per
month and in some cases have
exceeded the 1,100 mark. It
serves a registered 2,537 patients
and is centrally located so that
75 of the two county county
service population is within a 15
mile range. The fees at HealthCo
are charged according to the
patients ability to pay. The
center provides relief to
hundreds of low income families
who cannot afford to travel 50
to 70 miles one way to the
Research Triangle for medical
attention.
To a county whose doctor
patient ratio is 7,500 people to
one full time physician, the
existence of HealthCo is crucial.
As a result of its establishment,
two full time physicians have
been added to the county
medical staff. The Center also
has Registered Nurses, Physicians
Assistants, Primary Care
Technicians, and a full time
Dentist. Operating from a
cramped temporary facility,
HealthCo still manages to
administer to its patients high
quality health treatment.
Recently, the department of
Health, Education, and Welfare
expressed dissatisfaction with
the health facility. Executive
Director, Robert 0 Kelley and
Chairman of the Board, Dr. J. P.
Green responded to the charges
in a letter to the Regional Health
Administrator, Dr. G. A. Reich.
Kelley and Dr. Greeni stated in
their letter: "The Health care
providers and supportive staff
are at HealtnC'o' because they
have a commitment to this
community. We sincerely hope
that you will join and share this
commitment by reversing your
position and assuring that this
community receives adequate
medical care."
Kelly met with HEW officials
on January 14, in Atlanta to
determine what course of action
will be taken on the matter.
Over 5,000 signatures have been
gathered on petitions circulated
by HealthCo, indicating the
enourmous amount of support
the clinic has received from the
communities it serves.
Plans
Valentine
for
Party
the
were
annual
discussed
each.
Mrs. Odell Keith made the
presentation of the offering to
Mrs. Jones who has been
Louise Dalrymple, Lonnie Jones,
Marina Fischer, Ruth Flowers,
Louise Smith, Martha Stanley
and Thomas VanHook, visitor.
Itta Alofen To Appear At Central
Etta Moten, who was a friend
of the writers of the Harlem
Renaissance and a singing star of
stage and screen during the
Golden Age of the American
musical, lectured at North
Carolina Central University's
Alfonso Elder Student Union
Tuesday and Wednesday.
Miss Moten, who is the
widow of the pioneer Black
t I JMi'kJJ'I'lll
I ''"X-Uijauiii.r
On February 6, 1776,
William Hooper of North
Carolina sent an urgent let
ter to his native province in
North Carolina to alert the
leaders of an impending
British attack. It would be
newspaperman Claude Barnett, performed in dramtic roles. She
spoke on African American appeared in such movies as "The
folklore and music. Gold Diggers of 1933" and "The
Miss Moten is a graduate of Carioca." She produced her own
the University of Kansas, has radio show, "Etta Moten Sings,"
sung on four continents, and in Chicago,
starred on Broadway and in The lectures were sponsored
Hollywood. by the Alfonso Elder Student
She was Bess in "Porgy and Union as part of its observance
Bess" for three years on of Afro-American History
Broadway, where she also Month.
February 6, 1964-Fidel Castro orders the U.S. Naval Base at
Guantanamo Bay's water cut off. The Cuban leader's action is a
reprisal for the seizure earlier in the week of four cuban fishing
vessels off the coast of Florida.
February 7, 1948-General Dwight D. Eisenhower resigns as
army chief of staff. He is succeeded by General Omar Bradley.
February 8, 1949-An Air Force jet bomber flies across the United
States in 3 hours, 46 minutes, the fastest transcontinental flight to
date.
February 9, 1773-Birthday of William Henry Harrison, destined
to become the ninth President of the United States.
February 10, 1962-Francis Gary Powers, held by Russia as an
American spy, is released in exchange for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel.
February 11, 1961-Robert C. Weaver is sworn in as ad
ministrator of the U.S. Housing and Home Finance Agency the
highest federal post held by a Negro to date.
February 12, 1870-AI1 women in the territory of Utah are granted
full suffrage.
r rWsxm
MEM
BE
important to leave no stone
unturned in the preparation
of the colony for an in
vasion. He concluded his
letter with the wish that
"God may have mercy on
(this) Tory city."
-"6 6
Many people tell many other
TWtiiklo e whan vnil anpnk vnnr
mind you usually end up with a
short address. And the word from
Hollywood lately is that there
really, is no Dusiness inte snow
business.
IT'S NICE TO KNOW SOMEBODY
REALLY CARES
And when it comes to finances, it's nice to know there's a
bank that cares, too, with services geared to the needs of
your community. Whether it's regarding a checking
account, savings, or a loan, we're here to serve.
Enjoy full Servc Banking
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Dochanics a Formers Bonk
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Sunday, Feb. 8, 5:30
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