Sterilization of "mental defectives" defeated by Parliament 81 years ago tomorrow

John Smeaton, SPUC director: Sterilization of "mental defectives" defeated by Parliament 81 years ago tomorrow: Opposition to the Bill was led by Dr Hyacinth Morgan (Labour MP for Camberwell Norty) whose eloquent words should be remembered:

“The Bill is said to be in advance of public opinion, but it is really in advance of common sense and ordinary sanity....If once the principle of maiming or mutilation is admitted, not for the benefit or health of the individual but for the good of others or the State acting for others, there is no brake to sliding down the slippery slope leading to the swamp of State penalisation, where we may get rid of all those obnoxious to the State. Those preaching subversive doctrines may have their tongues cut out. Those writing subversive doctrines may have their hands cut off. The State (those temporarily in power) are the dictators of limb and life. The eugenicist upon a pinnacle of intellectual snobbery, looking down upon the less fortunate mental defective, may gradually raise the standard of mental deficiency and push more and more citizens into the maelstrom of the mentally-maimed."

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