title: [Case study: debut of legal sterilization of mentally ill patients in the Vaud canton].
abstract: The topic of genetic transmission of mental diseases appears early in the psychiatric literature. Among the consequences of these theories in the Swiss canton Vaud a law was enacted in 1928 concerning the sterilization of persons affected by "mental disease or mental disability". This short communication presents a selection of case histories which sheds light on the first years after the enactment of this law.
authors.affiliation: Institut universitaire d'histoire de la médecine et de la santé publique, Lausanne.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gasser
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heller
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000266:history*; D007878:Legislation as Topic / Q000266:history; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000266:history*; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000266:history* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011247:Pregnancy; D013244:Sterilization, Involuntary / Q000266:history*; D013557:Switzerland
vernacular_title: Etude de cas: les débuts de la stérilisation légale des malades mentaux dans le canton de vaud.