[After vasectomy comes a child! The clinic is responsible. Recent legal decision in America].

In a 5 to 2 majority decision the Minnesota Superior Court awarded US$19500 compensatory damages to a couple when a child was born in spite of the fathers vasectomy 2 years previous. The damages were directed against the operating physician and the hospital where the vasectomy was performed. In this case the procedure was performed incompletely. It is estimated that currently 100000 of such operations are performed annually in the US. It is known that these operations only prevent conception; libido nor normal hormone processes are affected. Sterilization of men is a comparative simple procedure. Statistics show a failure rate of 3 cases in 100000. Future improved technics may eliminate even this small percentage. In many states the cost of a vasectomy is covered by health insurance and/or Medicaid. San Francisco has a birth control clinic for men the first of its kind in the world. In this clinic men can get professional advice on modern birth control methods technics of application for both sexes and technic of vasectomy. Personalized counseling is provided and actual contraceptives are available. Similar clinics are planned for other cities.