STERILIZATION SUIT BY CHICANAS By Carlos Calder贸n
Los Angeles, California - State health officials have been enjoined from using federal funds for " v o l u n t a r y " sterilizations of women between 18 and 21 years of age, in a suit filed by 11 Chicanas in U.S. district court. Ten of the women are also seeking financial damages in their class action suit which charges that they were deceived and c o e r c e d into being sterilized at the Los Angeles County USC Medical Center. Federal Judge E. Avery Crary also ordered California state officials to r e - t r a n s l a t e the current Spanish versions of the sterilization consent forms from and1 1 t h - g r a d elevel to a 6 t h - g r a d e level. The court ordered officials to rewrite the forms after hearing testimony that most of the Chicana patients could not read or understand the current FORMS W R I T T E N I N 1 1 T H - g r a d e level Spanish. Charles Nabarett, one of the attorneys for the women, said that it was " p r e t t y well document that some doctors were using high pressure tactics" to get women to consent to the operation. The case, which w i l l continue on May 3, 1976 to resolve financial damages, represents a milestone in the fight against such sterilizations, according to observers here. The Chicano community has been w a g ing a fight over the past 18 months to halt the use of the operations after i t was discovered that Chicanas were being sterilized without their knowledge. The judge, however, made i t clear he was not banning the use of voluntary sterilizations of women between 18 and 21 years old, but only the use of federal funds for such operations in California. C a l i fornia law permits voluntary sterilizations of anyone over 18 years of age while Federal law permits the same operation only if the person is 21 years or older. In a related action, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved an 846,146 contract with the local Regional Family Planning Council for a new demonstration sterilization program and continuation of current family planning services. Board approval, however, came only when List贸n Witherill, Director of County Health Services, promised that there would be no improper pressure tactics or deceit on the part of County Hospital officials. Supervisors Edmund Edelman and Kenneth Hahn refused to vote for the program until Witherill pledged that men and women patients would be completely 'protected from coercion or deceit. 21