Topic: Chemical Castration for convicted paedophiles Posted: 24 October 2009 at 8:15pm
Chemical castration is the administration of medication designed to reduce libido and sexual activity, usually in the hope of preventing rapists, child molesters and other sex offenders from re-offending. Unlike surgical castration, where the testes are removed through an incision in the scrotum, chemical castration does not actually castrate the person, nor is it a form of sterilization, hence the term "chemical castration" has been called a misnomer. Chemical castration is generally considered reversible when treatment is discontinued; in the case of Depo Provera, "no permanent physical change is wrought in the body." Castration has, from time to time, been used as an instrument of public and/or judicial policy despite concerns over human rights and possible side effects. [URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_castration]
Has anyone heard of this lately? I think there is a very interesting debate going on at present, about the humane side effects and whether it will actually make paedophlies more frustrated and not actually decrease their likelihood of committing again, and I thought this would be a very appropriate topic for this forum, if anyone else has any knowledge or opinions about this matter?
Edited by SiobhanMarie - 24 October 2009 at 8:15pm
Joined: 10 February 2010
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Posted: 10 February 2010 at 10:45am
While I completely agree with you that peadophilia is a massive problem that needs to be addressed, I'm don't think that castration, chemical or surgical, is the right way to go about this.
A majority of sexual offenders do so because they are oppressed or abused themselves as a child...is it okay to punish someone because of their psychological problems? Shouldn't the addressing of their mental health issues be the priority rather than their sexual urges?
Some studies have concluded that at least a quarter of all adult men
may have some feelings of sexual arousal in connection with children (http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Paedophilia#cite_note-28). Does this mean we have to castrate a quater of all men?
What should be the solution is early identification of potential offenders, and providing anonymous counselling services, the same way programs we have in place for repeat drug, alchohol and violence offenders. Where peadophilia involves sex, in most cases the motive is power, where domination is the main cause. I feel that this isn't a problem that can be, or should be addressed by castration, and that only addressing the core issue will have any lasting effect.
I'd like to hear your feedback, after all, this is only my opinion.
Absolutely - we know that prevention is the best way to approach these issues, however there aren't always things that can be stopped, so the question is what can we do from here?
I think child abuse is such a hard subject to try and cover - so many ins and outs and barriers and precautions and different interpretations, and I very much agree with your long term affects 'goal' of what needs to be provided.
Honestly with this chemical castration, I think it's a drastic measure that has been enforced to make it seem like something is being done. Looking back, especially now, it doesn't seem like if could benefit in anyway at all.
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