Duplessis Orphans
Duplessis Orphans
Duplessis Orphans (pronunciation: du-ple-see or-fans) refers to a group of approximately 20,000 orphans who were falsely certified as mentally ill by the government of the province of Quebec, Canada from the 1940s to the 1960s. The term is named after Maurice Duplessis, the 16th Premier of Quebec, who was in power during this period.
Etymology
The term "Duplessis Orphans" is derived from the name of Maurice Duplessis, who served as the Premier of Quebec during the time when these events occurred. The word "orphans" refers to the children who were victimized by this scandal.
History
The Duplessis Orphans scandal began in the 1940s when the Quebec government, under the leadership of Premier Maurice Duplessis, began to systematically declare orphaned children as mentally ill. This was done in order to receive more federal funding, as the Canadian government provided more funds for the care of the mentally ill than for orphans.
The children, who were primarily housed in Roman Catholic institutions, were subjected to horrific conditions and often used for medical experimentation. The scandal was exposed in the late 1960s, leading to widespread outrage and calls for justice.
Related Terms
- Maurice Duplessis: The 16th Premier of Quebec, after whom the Duplessis Orphans are named.
- Orphan: A child whose parents are deceased, unknown, or have permanently abandoned them.
- Roman Catholic Church: The largest Christian church, led by the Pope. Many of the institutions involved in the Duplessis Orphans scandal were affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.
- Medical experimentation: The use of experiments or tests to discover or verify medical knowledge.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Duplessis Orphans
- Wikipedia's article - Duplessis Orphans
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