The crimes of psychologists from Wundt to Watson

The Hayes decision and some later laws require findings that medical science is not on the verge of breakthroughs that will correct the individual's disability or make reversible sterilization available. These various criteria create formidable substantive barriers to the sterilization of mentally retarded persons. Current law explicitly or implicitly excludes some variables from the court's consideration, such as the state's interest in protecting society from the genetic and financial burden of children produced by retarded persons.