tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post5059308951591838547..comments2024-03-16T16:44:18.220-07:00Comments on Bad Cripple: Ashley Treatment in the Hastings Center Reportwilliam Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-59181595048143253792010-11-13T10:55:17.621-08:002010-11-13T10:55:17.621-08:00For better or worse growth attenuation is a fact o...For better or worse growth attenuation is a fact of life and a "treatment" that will not be abandoned. I am opposed to it in theory and practice and am fascinated by the ethical dilemmas it raises. Why I wonder do its proponents so forcefully push this as an option? Surely they must see the ethical implications and possible abuses. The 1950s and growth attenuation in young women a prime example. See Normal at Any Cost.william Peacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-60977591843471227252010-11-12T05:27:31.424-08:002010-11-12T05:27:31.424-08:00It seems to me, the father of a child EXACTLY like...It seems to me, the father of a child EXACTLY like Ashley, and a therapist with over 20 years experience in treating both disabled adults and children, that growth attenuation in some form or other is here to stay, it needs to be worked out, but there is no denying that there will always be a group who feels their needs are met with this series of procedures and it will not be deemed "illegal", citing the fact that Ashley X's treatment was technically an illegal act with no known ramifications for the participants.<br /><br />It would also seem to me that it boils down to categorizing the rights of what I call absolutely or extremely disabled children whose cognitive faculties and disabilities will always preclude their expressing will. <br /><br />This is very very tricky territory, since the medical establishment, being the main experts consulted, since parents are not considered experts, will always insinuate that "it's best for them", no matter how atrocious the procedure they dream up sounds.<br /><br />The fallibility of the pro Ashley camp's argument lies, in my present understanding with the fact that such a procedure would never, as already stated in your post, be performed on a person able to express their unwillingness.<br /><br />"He doesn't know, She doesn't know what's good for her!" will most certainly be the final bastion of logic for the pro Ashley X procedure group and I fear, looking at history, that many parents will be influenced into taking this option, thinking simply that THEY need to decide for their child since he/she can't when there are so many other factors to consider, never brought up by the pro Ashley X procedure.Eric Fischerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02471331868560587898noreply@blogger.com