The Pros And Cons Of Chemical Castration

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The procedure of administering anti-androgen medicines to a male in an exertion to decrease the levels of his testosterone levels to suppress sex drive is known as chemical castration (1). The difference between surgical castration and chemical castration is that in surgical castration the male testes are removed which makes an individual permanently incapable of impregnating a women where in chemical castration drugs such as “medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and cyproterone acetate” are commonly used which are anti-androgen drugs that suppress a male’s sex drive and can be inverted by ceasing the use of medications. Advocates of chemical castration argues that it significantly reduce the rates of recidivism and is more upright than long …show more content…

It not only treat the sex offenders but also act as a retribution for the victims. Don and Beech contends, “Although castration is extensively for public protection, it also carries with it a sense of symbolic retribution” (433). Victims of sexual offense have reported that they prefer their offenders to undergo treatment as oppose to incarceration because it will eliminate their urges to molest or commit rapes. Without the treatment of chemical castration the release of sex convicts after serving their sentence endanger the well-being of society. Marshall in “Treatment or punishment” states, “Sex offenders represent a class of criminals whose crimes call for both punishment and treatment. However, sex offenders represent a broad and heterogeneous class and obviously not all would, or should, be deemed candidates for a period of incarceration” (442).The effects of chemical castration is reversible, which enables sex offenders to exist in the society after being treated. It is arguably more humane to require sex offenders to undergo medical treatment than life long imprisonment. Additionally because the effects of chemical castration are reversible no enduring physical change is shaped in the body. Accordingly psychiatric Dr. Laura who is an expert in the field of chemical castration for sex offenders states, “chemical castration proves far more advantageous than surgical castration, as it requires continuous monitoring and follow-up visits at certain intervals for administration of the medication"

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