Addicted Women

Re Patt Morrison’s column, Oct. 31:

It seems to me that Barbara Harris, who is offering crack-addicted women $200 to get their tubes tied, is a true hero of the modern era. Why should one individual have the right to not only ruin the life of another individual (the child), but also to contribute another burden on a society already stretched to its limit.

As a mother, I believe every child brought into the world has his or her own fundamental rights; including the right to reasonably responsible and loving parents, as well as a healthy birth. The rights of the potential child should far outweigh the freedom of any crack-addicted woman’s right to procreate.

Maybe our government cannot get involved in such issues, but hurray for an individual who for all the right reasons is taking matters into her own hands!

JEAN BURKE-MARTINEZ

South Pasadena