Controversial treatment of disabled children
The parents of a disabled girl announced today that they are happy with the decision they made a year ago to perform a controversial treatment that stunted their daughter's growth, CNN said.
An article from ABC last year ABC says that the parents of the girl, Ashley, were worried about how difficult caring for their daughter would be if she were to continue growing. They were also concerned about how Ashley would be alarmed at her own development into a woman.
Ashley underwent a hysterectomy, breast surgery, and drug treatment to stay forever small, ABC said.
A year later, the parents are happy with the results of their decision to give their daughter what has now been called the "Ashley treatment."
"The 'Ashley treatment' has been successful in every expected way," Ashley's parents told CNN said. . "It has potential to help many others like it helped our precious daughter."
Controversy continues to surround the parents, who choose to remain anonymous. The hospital that hosted Ashley's treatment admitted to breaking Washington state law; furthermore Dr. Daniel Gunther, the doctor who oversaw Ashley's treatment committed suicide. CNN
The issue remains controversial, with people who agree that the treatment is a helpful option for caregivers of disabled people, and with those who agree that the treatment is a mutilation performed by doctors "playing God."