I Have No Words
I was just flipping through the channel and came across a news program discussing how parents of a mentally disabled child allowed her to be given a treatment called "growth attenuation".
I found an artcle from the LA Times discussing it.
An except:
"The treatment, known as "growth attenuation," is expected to keep Ashley's height at about 4 feet 5 and her weight at about 75 pounds for the rest of her life. Doctors expect her to have a normal lifespan. Had she not been given the treatment, doctors estimate, she would have grown into a woman of average height and weight - about 5 feet 6 and 125 pounds.
The treatment has involved a hysterectomy, surgery to prevent breast growth and subsequent high doses of estrogen."
For the rest of the article: http://www.latimes.com/wireless/avantgo/la-na-stunt3jan03,0,7778280.story
I seriously cannot fathom this. I can imagine how difficult it must be to have disabled child, but I can't understand this extreme. It seems to set a dangerous precedent.
I found an artcle from the LA Times discussing it.
An except:
"The treatment, known as "growth attenuation," is expected to keep Ashley's height at about 4 feet 5 and her weight at about 75 pounds for the rest of her life. Doctors expect her to have a normal lifespan. Had she not been given the treatment, doctors estimate, she would have grown into a woman of average height and weight - about 5 feet 6 and 125 pounds.
The treatment has involved a hysterectomy, surgery to prevent breast growth and subsequent high doses of estrogen."
For the rest of the article: http://www.latimes.com/wireless/avantgo/la-na-stunt3jan03,0,7778280.story
I seriously cannot fathom this. I can imagine how difficult it must be to have disabled child, but I can't understand this extreme. It seems to set a dangerous precedent.