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Friday, February 9, 2007 12:00 AM

Behind the Pillow Angel

Doctors at the Seattle hospital that operated on a disabled girl to keep her from reaching sexual maturity -- the controversial "Ashley Treatment" -- were more troubled by the procedure than has been reported previously.

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  • Friday, February 9, 2007 09:29 AM

    Not a Person

    As a person, I'm insulted to have Ashley included in the definition of personhood. There's no one home, there never will be. Our society performs painful medical experiments on chimpanzees with greater capacity for understanding than Ashley.

    If you're worried about the slippery slope, you should concentrate on where you'd draw the line and why. Personally, I draw it at the ability to improve and mentally develop beyond the age of 3 (a completely arbitrary age, I admit; I'd appreciate count-arguments). But let's all admit that Ashley is a very extreme and rare case that is fundamentally different from someone with Down's Syndrome or CP (even the low-functioning ones). In fact, it insults those people to be lumped in with Ashley.

    Ashley is morally no more than a pet, and deserves the same consideration. She doesn't deserve the pain of menustration or the discomfort of breasts. She certainly doesn't deserve to be left in bed all day because it's too difficult to lift and move her. Giving her a hysterecomy is no worse than fixing your dog.

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