The consent form she signed in labor that hid the sterilization's permanence

A sedated woman in labor at USC-LA County Hospital is told her "tubes can be untied later"; she signs a consent form-how did that expose them?

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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