Advocates for the disabled are asking Nevada legislators to create additional protections for intellectually disabled people whose legal guardians want to have them sterilized.
The Nevada Current reports that a legislative committee whose focus is on adults with special needs voted in July to explore revising the statute governing the sterilization of people who are under legal guardianship.
The Nevada Disability Advocacy and Law Center and an independent disability advocate had raised concerns that the current law, which dates to 1933, maybe allowing guardians to use outdated beliefs on disabilities as a reason for sterilization.
The ability to have children is considered a constitutionally protected right.
