But the questioned persons say that the Romany women applied for the sterilisation themselves because they found out that if they underwent the sterilisation operation, they would get considerable financial amounts which they received after the sterilisation. The Prosecutor evidently did not regard the large financial incentive as a factor exerting undue force on impoverished women. Additionally, several of the sterilisations were in direct contradiction with the 1972 decree. These sterilisations were carried out on the initiative of practitioners acting out subjective value judgements and they were in violation of the law. This is especially true in the interaction of medical professionals with Romani women, whom many doctors appear to believe either will not comprehend the complicated issues being presented or, in fact, may not consent to being sterilised.
Romani activists report that there are numerous such cases in the Czech Republic.
In Slovakia, sterilising Romani women remains a prevalent theme in public discourse. Gypsies of Svinia , a 1997 documentary film by the Canadian anthropologist David Scheffel, features a gynocologist discussing at length her recommendation that Romani women be sterilised. She has recently returned to Canada to pursue a career in human rights. Back Ibid., p. 24. Back Pellar and Andr , Op. cit.