purplechoe
08-17-2013, 04:06 PM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23721893
Judge approves man's sterilisation in legal first
General view of operating theatre It is the first time in England and Wales a court has sanctioned a man's sterilisation
A High Court judge has sanctioned the sterilisation of a man "in his best interests" in a landmark legal ruling.
The 36-year-old, from the Midlands, has learning difficulties and already has a son, born in 2010, with his girlfriend.
Mrs Justice Eleanor King ruled that a vasectomy could take place after hearing that another child could cause the man "psychological harm".
Experts said he was capable of sexual consent but did not have the capacity to make decisions about contraception.
The case came to court because of undisputed evidence that the man - referred to as DE - does not have the capacity to decide whether or not to consent to sterilisation, meaning a judge had to make the decision.
'Relationship strain'
The Court of Protection in London has heard that DE does not want to become a father again.
But he could not be relied upon to use condoms or other birth control methods effectively to prevent pregnancy, the court was told.
In her ruling, Mrs Justice King said DE lived with his parents but had a long-standing, loving relationship with his girlfriend PQ, who also has learning disabilities, but of a less severe nature.
The birth of the couple's first child had had a "profound" effect on both families, and measures were taken to ensure there was no further pregnancy, including keeping the couple apart and supervising any contact between them...
Judge approves man's sterilisation in legal first
General view of operating theatre It is the first time in England and Wales a court has sanctioned a man's sterilisation
A High Court judge has sanctioned the sterilisation of a man "in his best interests" in a landmark legal ruling.
The 36-year-old, from the Midlands, has learning difficulties and already has a son, born in 2010, with his girlfriend.
Mrs Justice Eleanor King ruled that a vasectomy could take place after hearing that another child could cause the man "psychological harm".
Experts said he was capable of sexual consent but did not have the capacity to make decisions about contraception.
The case came to court because of undisputed evidence that the man - referred to as DE - does not have the capacity to decide whether or not to consent to sterilisation, meaning a judge had to make the decision.
'Relationship strain'
The Court of Protection in London has heard that DE does not want to become a father again.
But he could not be relied upon to use condoms or other birth control methods effectively to prevent pregnancy, the court was told.
In her ruling, Mrs Justice King said DE lived with his parents but had a long-standing, loving relationship with his girlfriend PQ, who also has learning disabilities, but of a less severe nature.
The birth of the couple's first child had had a "profound" effect on both families, and measures were taken to ensure there was no further pregnancy, including keeping the couple apart and supervising any contact between them...