Passage of
Laws
There has never been a voluntary or compulsory sterilization law in Hawaii. The sterilization of feeble-minded and mentally ill individuals who were institutionalized was proposed in 1953 in House Bill 666, but this bill never passed (Paul, p. 565).
An editorial appeared in the Neuropsychiatric Aspects of Sterilization in 1944, stating that even without a sterilization law in Hawaii, a “decision as to what is best, not only for the individuals concerned, but for the nation and for the society in general” needed to be made (quoted in Paul, p. 567). The article then went on to state that “until such a decision is forthcoming from a proper authority, the ethical non-Catholic doctor, remembering that his fundamental mission is to relieve suffering and prolong life, must let his own conscience be his guide” (Paul, p. 567).
Groups
Targeted and
Victimized
It is believed that individuals in Hawaii were never forced to undergo sterilization. However, Dr. Nils P. Larsen, medical director of Queens Hospital, established a post-partum sterilization program the the pre-World War II period that applied to mothers of large families in Hawaii (Paul, p. 566). A 1950 report noted that "post-partum sterilization has been undertaken among rural uneducated women on a considerable scale" (Paul, p. 565). This procedure was then continued by doctors on plantations by doctors who deemed the sterilization a "necessary maternal health measure" (Paul, p. 566). Dr. Larsen advocated that the criminally insane be sterilized, as well as those who are lepers, as noted by John Tayman in his study of the infamous leper colony there, Molokai (p. 239).
Major Proponents
Roswell Johnson, was an enthusiastic supporter of
both the eugenics and birth control movements, as he saw the two
movements "intimately related" (Gillette, p. 137). After completing his
Ph.D in sociology in 1934 Johnson taught at the University of Hawaii,
and worked as the executive secretary for the Palama Settlement for the
poor and disadvantaged in Honolulu (Gillette, p. 139). Johnson did not
see eye to eye with the head of the society, Dr. Philip S. Platt and
was soon moved to a new position.
Current Issues
Project Prevention, previously known as Children
Requiring a Caring Kommunituy or Crack sought to stop the passage of
medical disabilities and emotional problems to the next generation
(Walden). When asked about the project, Barbara Harris, the project's
director, said "We don't allow dogs to breed. We spay them. We neuter
them. We try to keep them from having unwanted children, and yet these
women are literally having litters of children" (Walden). Fliers were
passed out during March in 2010, offering voluntary sterilizations to
the public. The current project offers $200 for current and
former drug users to get sterilized (Walden). Project Prevention claims
to be completely voluntary. However, critics argue that
the project is aimed at substance abusers, and addictions "make this a
choice to take money under duress" (Walden). Referrals are beginning to
come to Project Prevention from sources such as publicly funded jails,
probation centers, drug treatment centers and hospitals. The National
Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW), one of Project Prevention's
biggest critics, has called the program a "dangerous vector for medical
misinformation
and political propaganda" and have accused Project Prevention of
reporting untrue stories while promoting stereotypes and prejudices
against pregnant women (Walden).