Legal consent for vasectomy of a mentally-retarded minor
Bergen, R.P.
JAMA 221(3): 310
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0098-7484 PMID: 12332765 Document Number: 44788
The medicolegal aspects of sterilizing mentally retarded minors are discussed. In general, courts have jurisdiction over minors and have authority to issue orders for the protection or welfare of a minor. A case cited concerned an attempt to have a mentally retarded adult woman with two illegitimate children sterilized. The attempt was denied by the court because her parents had no authority to act for her since she was an adult and no guardian had been appointed who had control over her person. No cases of this nature concerning minors could be found. The consent of the parents might be sufficient reason for sterilization in the case of a minor.