In 1911 the American Breeders' Association appointed a "Committee to
Study and Report on the Best Practical Means of Cutting Off the
Defective Germ-Plasm in the American Population," and this committee has
been at work ever since, under auspices of the Eugenics Record Office,
making a particular study of legal sterilization. It points out[90] that
a sterilization law, to be of the greatest possible value, must:
(1) Consider sterilization as a eugenic measure, not as a punitive or
even therapeutic one.
(2) Provide due process of law, before any operation is carried out.
(3) Provide adequate and competent executive agents.
(4) Designate only proper classes of persons as subject to the law.
(5) Provide for the nomination of individuals for sterilization, by
suitable procedure.
(6) Make an adequate investigation of each case, the family history
being the most important part, and one which is often neglected at
present.
(7) Have express and adequate criteria for determining upon
sterilization.
(8) Designate the type of operation authorized.
(9) Make each distinct step mandatory and fix definitely the
responsibility for it.
(10) Make adequate appropriation for carrying out the measure.
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