Medically Engineered Humans

[Flynn]

The "Ashley Treatment"

The parents of a severely disabled young girl ( Ashley ) have turned to the internet to defend their decision to approve growth-stunting medical treatments that will ensure that she has a child’s body for the rest of her life.

The procedures include large doses of estrogen that will restrict bone growth, a hysterectomy and the removal of breast buds so she will not develop breasts as an adult.

Ashley’s parents reject accusations that the purpose of the procedures was to make their lives more convenient. The parents say it is a misconception that the treatment is intended for the care giver rather than what they say are actions that will improve Ashley’s quality of life.

It goes without saying that an adult in a child’s body would be much easier to care for than that of a fully grown adult.

I don’t doubt for one moment that these parents are acting in what they believe are in the best interests of their daughter.

Do parents have the right to have those sorts of medical treatments carried out on their children ?

Where is the blurring of the lines in other childhood disorders where a parent or a guardian can ask for a procedures such as sterilisation be carried out ?

Whose responsibility is it to ascertain which children can have radical medical treatments ?

[kiki5711]

THat is very interesting. In some way I really understand their point of view and feel their suffering.

Severely disabled adults are not easy to take care of. Even if they can do physical task such as go to the bathroom and eat by themselves, taking care of them for the rest of their life is just plain cruel. It's hard. They are big and act like a child, you have to watch them like a two year old and take care of them every minute of the day even though they look 40 yrs old.

For a reason like this, I could understnd why these parents would do that and feel very sorry for what they have to go through.

[brilor]

What has happened here is morally wrong. This is to make the parents life easier not the child.
This is exactly what Dr Mengele was doing to young Jewish boys and girls in the concentration camps during WW2.

To the surgeons who carried out this horrible proceedure keep up the good work, Dr Mengele will be cheering you on from hell!

[kiki5711]

Originally Posted by brilor

What has happened here is morally wrong. This is to make the parents life easier not the child.
This is exactly what Dr Mengele was doing to young Jewish boys and girls in the concentration camps during WW2.

To the surgeons who carried out this horrible proceedure keep up the good work, Dr Mengele will be cheering you on from hell!

brilor, but that's not the same though.
I feel they are doing it to make her life easier, and yes theirs too.
But I do wonder how does this affect her mental development though???? Did it say in that article, I didn't read it all.

[AutumnRain]

its a very very tough topic.
One the one hand as a parent you do whatever you can to make sure your child has the best care in the world. however at the same time looking after a child with several disabilities is a very hard and tiring thing to do.

we cannot speak for these parents we can only try and understand the pressures that they feel. personally I wouldnt want to mutalate my child, I would let nature take its course, let her grow, let her develop, she may not be able to do much if anything for herself but she is still a person and life is precious, dont mess with it..

[brilor]

Originally Posted by Crudebug

Brilor, that is a bit extreme view to bracket them with Nazis and medical experiments. No one deserves that. least of all those who are probably debating the wisdom of the difficult choice they made.
This is one reason I wish the thread was not on a specific case but was crafted on a hypothetical episode where no one gets vilified and just the ethics are argued keeping it impersonal with regard to both subjects and debaters. Helps to keep it rational and less emotional / sentimental.

I don't think that my view is extreme. What is extreme is what has happened!

[AutumnRain]

hmm.. brilor, you cant compare the two at all.. what mengele did was pure torture for the sake of his own research.
I think from these parents point of view, if it is easier for them to look after a disabled child then it will be less hassle for hte child... in the long run..
I dont agree with what they are doing, but I can understand..

[Vinnie]

Also Mengele's "research" was poorly planned torture. The Nazi's did conduct some "useful" experiments but not under Dr Mengele. (An interesting quandry for the victors was how to deal with the research the Nazi's gained into the effects of decompression on the human body - vital for high altitude flyers. Unfortunately they'd done the research by locking people into chambers and sucking the air out. Could the Allies in good concience use it or had the poor people died for nothing - but we are getting off topic here.)
A parent has the right to make certain decisions which are in the childs best interest. How far can this right extend is a difficult question.
I do not belive that it is a right that is absolute.
he interests of the child are paramount in all cases and the courts should be willing to step in to arbitrate the descisions.
I do not understand the choice tha parents made in this instance but I can understand where they are coming from. I do ot think it was the correct choce although I can see the advantages that will accrue to the child.

[Flynn]

Comparing the parents actions to Dr Mengele is extreme but I agree with Brilor, this treatment has more to do with the parents well being than the childs.

What is the next step along this path do we permit parents to medically induce a coma to make it easier for them ?

[sexysadie]

While visiting this thread earlier, I felt torn between the rights of the child and the pain of watching that child suffer from the eyes of a parent. I then decided to read the "Ashley" case myself and I must say...I'm still quite torn. Although my heart goes out to any parent in that situation or anything even remotely similar, I can't help but wonder if the childs right to, not only grow as a human being but as a woman as well..has been compromised here. Who should get to make that final decision as to what Ashley's "quality of life" should be? She's not a vegetable by no means...Ashley can see, hear, think, move, love...and she has quite the taste in music I might add. Ashley's parents? What can I say...may God bless them......there's not a doubt in my mind that they have their daughters best interest in mind and heart...I don't think anybody can argue with that. My fear is that...if something like this is acceptable...what's next?