Ashley X

[faz]

Parents defend decision to keep girl a child (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2530561,00.html)

Her parents blog (http://ashleytreatment.spaces.live.com/blog/)

[Nivvie]

What the parents of sick children do is often something you need a sick child yourself to relate to, however, a lot of the arguments for this treatment these people have cited are just weird.

Making sure she never gets breasts to minimise the risk of sexual assualt?

That's a very, very slippery slope.
The are making a lot of judgements about what is more dignified, such as it is better for her to be in a girl's body rather than a woman's, when they have no basis for this. To many, they are robbing her of a hell of a lot of dignity by messing with her surgically.

I can understand why they are doing a lot of these things, her moving and handling will be a lot easier, but I honestly think a lot of this has to do with their own discomfort at her growing up. All parents of disabled children struggle with their teen's hormones and urges, knowing they will never lead lives in which to use their bodies. I know a mother who hates that her daughter has periods, feels it's proof that there's no god, as he wouldn't let her child who has already suffered enough, suffer more each month for no reason at all.
The cancer risk reduction argument cannot be taken into account, as there is no strong genetic link to provide a risk, like with many women who elect to have mastectomies, so technically, what's to stop any of us lopping off or cutting out anything that we feel may become malignant one day?

I dunno, I can see why they are doing it, but I don't think it's 'right'.

[ms.peachy]

I think not a single one of us is in a position to judge these parents. And let's all be really grateful for that.

[Loppfessor]

I think not a single one of us is in a position to judge these parents.

Of course we are, that's the beauty of the internet! I don't even have an opinion on this shit though it's just bizarre...

[Nivvie]

It (kind of) used to be part of my job to judge. A nurse and care manager of the disabled unit I temped in has to go and visit families to see if they're loved one can be admitted, either for respite or permanently. Often what is on a parent's careplan cannot be legally or morally implemented by anyone else, so they cannot be admitted, and sometimes, social workers informed.

If a parent hurts a child we have the right to judge them, advocacy has to begin somewhere, and many people will argue they are hurting this girl, even if it's the last thing they mean to to do.

[Pres Zount]

“If we as a society want to revise the nature of the harrowing predicament that these parents face, then more funds for home-based services, not more medication, is what is called for.”

More funds and more service.
“Parents absolutely have the right to do this and SHOULD do so in the best interests of care for the girl...
We are going to start seeing several more "Ashley Treatments" in he next few years, I would wager.

For some reason or another, I don't think this girl will live very long.

[cookiepuss]

Because of her small size, the parents say, Ashley will receive more care from people who will be able to carry her: “Ashley will be moved and taken on trips more frequently and will have more exposure to activities and social gatherings ... instead of lying down in her bed staring at TV all day long.”



yes and she can fit in the overhead compartments on airplanes, so we don't even have to buy her a seat!







but in all seriousness....I really don't know what to make of this case. I'm undecided.