Bill Would Require Sterilization For Drug-Addicted Mothers

Wed., Jan. 22, 1997

Lynda V. Mapes Staff writer

Drug-addicted women who give birth for the third time to a drug-addicted baby would be temporarily sterilized under a bill filed Tuesday.

The proposed legislation has already drawn bipartisan support.

Sen. Eugene Prince, R-Thornton, who rarely signs onto social issue bills, is supporting this one.

“It’s not really my kind of approach. I don’t think you can legislate this kind of thing,” Prince said. “But I want to get the debate started. I love to stir people up. It makes them think.”

SB5278, filed by Sen. Julia Patterson, D-SeaTac, would create four pilot projects to implement mandatory, long-term birth control for addicted women.

About 7,000 babies each year are born to women in Washington who abuse drugs or alcohol. Many of those children suffer from severe medical problems that hobble them the rest of their lives.

The cost of medical care for a child born to a drug-addicted mother is $5,400 for the first two years of life, compared to $2,600 spent to care for babies born to drug-and alcohol-free moms, according to Patterson.

“Drug abuse by expectant mothers is the most extraordinary form of child abuse in our society,” Patterson said.

The bill calls for increasingly stern enforcement measures with every child born to a drug-addicted mother.

After the first child, voluntary treatment, counseling and family-planning counseling would be provided. After the second, all that would be mandatory.

The third strike mandates temporary sterilization through birthcontrol methods such as Norplant, as well as long-term counseling and drug treatment.

Some lawmakers say Patterson’s bill addresses a serious problem but goes too far.

“If there is a child born with fetal alcohol syndrome or drug-affected, it’s a tremendous tragedy and burden to taxpayers,” said Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane.

“But I don’t take this approach. There’s just something about mandatory sterilization that violates people’s freedom. It still strikes me as something the state shouldn’t be doing. I’m afraid of it being misused.”

, DataTimes

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.