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North Carolina passes its first sterilization law.

1919

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The North Carolina Legislature passes what is called "An act to benefit the moral, mental, or physical condition of the inmates of penal and charitable institutions."

This legislation specifies that the medical staff of any penal or charitable hospital or institution is allowed to sterilize an individual provided that the operation will improve the individual's "physical, mental, or moral condition." Additionally, the operation must be approved by the State Board of Health, which is constituted of one representative from each of the state institutions, a governor, and a secretary.