Court to decide on sterilisation of man with learning difficulties

Azhria Lilu

Captain
The Court of Protection could make legal history this month if it sanctions the sterilisation of a man with learning difficulties who lacks the ability to give permission.

In what has been described as a “truly exceptional case”, Mrs Justice Eleanor King is set to rule whether it is in the best interests of a 36-year-old man from the Midlands with moderate to severe learning difficulties to be sterilised by means of a vasectomy.

The application was made by an NHS Trust and is backed by the man’s parents, GP, and local authority. It is said the man, who can only be referred to as DE for legal reasons, does not have the capacity to make the decision himself.

The man already has one son from his longstanding relationship. The court heard that DE does not want any more children but is unable to effectively obtain and use contraception. It was said becoming a father again would cause him “psychological harm”.

He is currently only able to see his girlfriend under supervision, to “keep them safe”. The court was told if another child was born it could be taken into care.
'A truly exceptional case': Court to decide on sterilisation of man

I can understand the reasoning behind this, but will it be the start of something bigger? If so, I can think of a few people who should be stopped from having kids and polluting the gene pool any further :blush:
 
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