Investigating the Nature and Limitations of Sterilization in Iranian Legal System and International Documents
Original Article | Pages: 85 - 94
- Zohreh Rahmani - Assistant Professor, Department of Public Law, Bandar Anzali Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Anzali, Iran [zohreh_4549@yahoo.com]
Abstract
Background: In today's world, in tandem with the swift progress of biotech-nology, observing the principles of bioethics has become an exigency. Medical knowledge has experienced a tremendous evolution by discoveries about human being and its organs which instantiates complex issues in law. Many legal sys-tems recognize voluntary sterilization as a common right of the individual. However, governments can limit this right if it conflicts with discipline or public interest.
Methods: In this descriptive analytical study, an attempt was made to evaluate the jurisprudential verdicts and opinions in sterilization besides examining the approach of Iranian legal system. The relevant international documents were reviewed in this study as well.
Results: The findings show that the government as the ruling power and author-ity in implementing the country's policies can to some extent limit this right. Also, international documents do not explicitly recommend or prohibit steri-lization.
Conclusion: Regarding the act of sterilization, governments must guarantee the inherent dignity of the individuals and their free and informed decision-making. Ensuring autonomous decision-making, along with providing information in this area, as well as ensuring non-discrimination in the provision of high quality sterilization services without any violence, are among the principles governing the right to sterilization. In case that the harms of the act outweigh the benefits, sterilization is reckoned to be contrary to the principles of bioethics and is forbidden.
Keywords
Right to one’s body, Compulsory sterilization, Sterilization restrictions, Sterilization right
References:
- Rizvi SA, Naqvi SA, Hussain Z. Ethical issues in male sterilization in developing countries. Br J Urol. 1995;76 Suppl 2:103-5.
- Rasekh M. [A theory of rights]. J Reprod Infer-til. 2010;10(4):299-316. Persian.
- M'Nabb FV. The ethics of sterilization. Eugen Rev. 1930;22(1):16-7.
- Feinberg J. Freedom and liberty. In: Craig E, editor. Routledge encyclopedia of philosophy. London: Routledge; 1998. 8680.
- World Health Organization. Eliminating forced, coercive and otherwise involuntary steriliz-ation: An interagency statement, OHCHR, UN Women, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO. Geneva: World Health Organiz-ation; 2014. 36 p.
- Savell K. Sex and the sacred: sterilization and bodily integrity in English and Canadian Law. McGill LJ. 2003;49:1093.
- Sarfaraz F. [The position of bioethics in Intern-ational Bioethics]. Iran J Med Law. 2007;1(1): 75-94. Persian.
- Abbasi M, Safaei S. A study of the four princi-ples of biological ethics from the perspective of Islamic jurisprudence and law. Bioeth J. 2011;1 (2):11-40.
- Mumtaz K. Pathways of empowerment: bodily integrity and women’s Empowerment. Mapp-ing women’s empowerment: experiences from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Dhaka: Uni-versity Press Ltd; 2010. 17 p.
- Jafari MT. [Global human rights: Comparison of two systems of Islam and the west]. 1st ed. Tehran: Institute of Compilation and Public-ation; 2009. 426 P. Persian.
- Herring J, Wall J. The nature and significance of the right to bodily integrity. Camb Law J. 2017;76(3):566-88.
- Javid MJ. [Public interest and public law with emphasis on the concept of etlagh velayat in Islamic state]. Rights Interests. 2009;5:23-44. Persian.
- Jones P. Rights. 1st ed. London: Red Globe Press; 1994. 268 p.
- Simmonds NE. Central issues in Jurisprud-ence. London: Sweet & Maxvell, 1986. 155 p.
- Tabatabai SMH. Tafsir al-Mizan. Translation by Mousavi Hamadani SMB. 1st ed. Qom: Qom Islamic Publications Office; 2003, Persian.
- Hosseini Tehrani SMH. [Nekahieh's treatise on population reduction, a major impact on the muslim body]. Qom: Institute of translation and publication of islam science and technology Allameh Tabatabai; 2008. Persian. 354 p.
- Sobhani Tabrizi J. [Al-Rasael al-Arba'a]. Qom: Imam Sadegh Institute; 1432. 1415 p. Persian.
- Hosseini Shahroudi SA. Derasata al-ostad Al-Muhaqiq al-Khui in practical principles. Na-jaf: Heydariyeh Library Publisher.
- Sobhani Tabrizi J. [The lesson of jurisprudence. The Issue of Determining the Diyah of destruction of genitals interests]. 2012, Persian.
- Behjat Foumani Gilani M.T. office. [Jami al-Masa'il]. Qom: Ayatollah Behjat Offic, 1426, Persian. 3202 p.
Citation
Rahmani Z. Investigating the Nature and Limitations of Sterilization in Iranian Legal System and International Documents. Iran J Biomed Law Ethics. 2020;1(2):85-94.