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I can't believe the doctor who said they should wait and see what would happen. Her body "might" not have outgrown her parents ability to carry her. Of course, if it had, then the only option would have been that she stay at home in bed for the rest of her life, or be institutionalized. The doctor would have shaken his head and moved on to the next patient. At least he didn't risk "mutilating" her. As for the one who said that this girl had a right to experience sexual pleasure... she is unable to consent to sexual pleasure with a partner, and probably unable to masturbate, so I have no idea how this would happen.
The worst are the "slippery slope" arguments. We shouldn't do this to Ashley because it might lead to using the treatment on less disabled people? Since when were all people, much less all disabled people, treated medically using the same methods? I'm really tired of people lumping all "disabled" people together, as if Terry Schiavo is the same as a person with a missing limb is the same as someone with cerebral palsy is the same as someone who is blind. That's pure nonsense. Each case must be treated individually. It's time that doctors, and advocates for the disabled, and the general public, started to recognize that we can't base treatment for one person on what might happen to others. People deserve to be treated in a way that is best for them, not in a way that is best for someone with some other level of disability.
I can only admire the dedication of the parents who have chosen to care for Ashley instead of putting her in a care facility. They are showing a level of love and compassion and sacrifice that would be beyond the capacity of most people. I also admire the courage of the doctors who were willing to do something unconventional to help them to retain the quality of their daughter's life. And to the critics: Pray that if anybody ever has to make decisions for you, they will show as much compassion.
