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• Friday, February 9, 2007 09:32 AM

  Are you Outraged? Show it by joining...

  over 450 people and 80 organizations, from 13 countries (49

  states and DC & CNMI) who have signed the following statement.

  This must never happen again to any other child.

  A Statement of Solidarity for the Dignity of People With Disabilities

  - A Reaction to the "Ashley Treatment"

  We, the undersigned individuals and organizations, are in agreement

  that the growth attenuation therapy administered to the little girl

  known as Ashley is an affront to her human dignity, and to that of all

  people with disabilities. Despite the good intentions of both her

  parents and the doctors who have treated her in accordance with their

  wishes, we condemn these medical procedures and declare that it is

  never ethically acceptable to medically alter a human being for the

  benefit of caregivers. Such unnecessary medical procedures without

  therapeutic indications demean the essential humanity of the person

  undergoing them and of all people with similar disabilities. Whether

  disabled or not, people must be given the opportunity to grow and

  develop according to their own capacity, whatever that may be. It is

  the duty of both caregivers and the hallmark of a progressive,

  civilized society to provide the means by which all of us can reach

  our full human potential.

  Ashley is impaired by an unknown brain disorder. Our hearts go out to

  her parents, and we recognize that they love Ashley and are trying

  their best in very trying circumstances to care for their daughter.

  But these unnecessary medical procedures with no demonstrated

  therapeutic purpose, in which doctors have surgically and hormonally

  altered Ashley to remain small and childlike, are misguided. While it

  is true that none of us can walk in her parents' shoes, we believe

  that this approach to easing the hardship of caring for a child with

  disabilities makes the child the problem, and by doing so, makes it

  acceptable for well-meaning people to deny the essential humanity of

  people with disabilities in the course of caring for them. People with

  disabilities are not the problem. The real issue is the lack of

  support, care, and help from our social, medical, and civil

  establishments for Ashley's parents and for all those who care for

  people with disabilities. Yes, it is expensive. But the alternative is

  morally and ethically unacceptable in a society that honors life and

  human dignity. We call on our fellow citizens, our government, and our

  medical establishment to treat people with disabilities as people, not

  as problems. We stand together and demand that doctors and social

  service agencies never again use medicine to strip someone of their

  humanity through medical procedures like the "Ashley Treatment," and

  call on our legislators to pass laws that codify the right of people

  with disabilities to their integrity as people.

  To add your name to this document electronically, please go to

  http://pub6.bravenet.com/guestbook/501900445 .

  —Susan Fitzmaurice
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