The consent form she signed in labor that hid the sterilization's permanence
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The consent form she signed in labor that hid the sterilization's permanence
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The consent form she signed in labor that hid the sterilization's permanence
In this episode, we trace what happened in a Los Angeles delivery room in October 1973 and how that moment connects to decades of laws, institutions, and medical practices. The episode follows the records, testimonies, and legal filings to ask how consent was obtained and contested.
Person: Jovita Rivera
Date: October 12, 1973
Location: USC-LA County Hospital
Topic: Sterilization consent and permanency
Period: 1969-1973
- A doctor told Jovita Rivera, sedated and in labor, her tubes "could be untied later" and presented a consent form she signed.
- Guadalupe Acosta was sterilized at the same hospital in 1973 with doctors claiming her husband consented, which he later denied.
- Maria Figueroa lost the ability to bear children, attempted suicide, and her husband barred her from testifying in court.
- California’s sterilization law, on the books since 1909, helped normalize procedures that targeted marginalized groups over decades.
- Researcher Novak’s analysis of over 17,000 records shows Latinas faced a 59% greater risk of sterilization, with 88% of Spanish-surnamed Californians on forms being of Mexican origin.
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