Sterilized Without Her Knowledge

Riddick was raped and became pregnant at the age of 13. Social workers labeled her promiscuous and too feeble-minded to ever be a responsible parent. So, after giving birth in 1968, Riddick was sterilized without being told.

She learned the truth years later, when she married and tried to have more children.

"They took so much away from me," Riddick said. "They took away my spirit and my soul."

North Carolina sterilized close to 8,000 women in hospitals across the state.

Even though the practice ended more than 30 years ago, some say the time has come to make amends. North Carolina was one of the first states out of 33 that once practiced sterilization to offer an apology. State Rep. Larry Womble is crafting a bill to provide financial reparations.

Some wonder where the state will get the money. "They say, 'Well, we can't afford it,' " said Womble, a Democrat. "Well, we cannot not afford it."

Riddick went on to earn a college degree

appalling!

Some incredible things have been done in the US to control people. I remember a film I saw about a famous actress who was given a lobotomy by her family to stop her going off with a guy they didn't like and spoiling her life and film career, according to them!!! The DOCTORS who helped in these things should be made to pay for the damages caused.

This was done and is probably still being done to mentally deficient people--normally the parents asked that this be done since they were thinking of their death (parents) and to "help" the child through puberty and who would care for their mentally deficient child after they were gone (especially if the child had children). Again, one can say this is wrong, but until one has walked in the shoes of the parent, how can we (the ones not making the decisions) say it is wrong.

omg its barbaric being sterilised without your knowledge because of your genes? how cruel is that.