I think one thing that may have driven her parents to make this request was that our culture does not function well as a community. Ever since the birth of the burbs our collective imaginations have failed to create adequate solutions to families in dire need of support. Making this disabled person surgically more convenient is a horrifying but logical result.

One parallel piece of evidence that the culture craves community but confuses it with things is the altruism-as-sensation show Extreme Makeover, Home Edition. The frantic cheers of volunteers as the recipients are given an extravagant home speaks to both that confusion and that unmet craving, I believe.

If we created a network of caring in every neighborhood so that no nuclear family had to care for a severely disabled child (or for that matter, any child or elder) either in isolation or with only institutional help, such interventions would not even be imagined.

It would still be sad and hard, that some among us are completely dependent, but it wouldn't break the back of a family or the conscience of healers. The baseline position is that there were no other options, and that is a true social failure.

especially by the pert little quote from the parents about Ashley not needing a uterus, because she won't bear children. Any parent asserting that they know the complete reproductive and romantic future of their child is disturbing.

Parents of disabled young people often try to deny their sexual maturation; they try to believe that someone with the mind of a child or a non-standard body would not have sexual feelings or desires. It's dangerous to propagate a treatment that would allow parents to enforce an endless childhood on disabled adults.

But Ashley doesn't have Downs Syndrome, or Autism, or anything like that. She doesn't have the muscle control to move her head; as an adult, she would have no sexual outlet, even alone, if she did formulate sexual desires. It's likely that the things that bring her most happiness in life would end as she became an adult, and more difficult to care for.

People who assert slippery slopes have no faith in brakes. It took a panel of 18 to allow this surgery; I doubt that panel would have allowed a young developmentally disabled man to be castrated so his parents wouldn't be troubled by chronic masturbation.

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.

I'm disgusted anyone would DARE to judge this family's decision and you really ought to go read their website, which is heartbreaking. To the person who was disturbed that the family could presume to know their child's reproductive future, YOU DON'T HAVE A FREAKIN' CLUE, DUDE. The child is comatose, ALL MENTAL DEVELOPMENT STOPPED AT AGE 3 MONTHS. She doesn't recognize her own parents! There is ZERO hope for any further development! Of course she's not going to reproduce! Good god!

As my mama said, until you've walked a mile in their moccassins, shut the heck up.

I hate it when Salon creates these pseudo-social-ethics issues out of nothing. Remember Terri Shiavo? I'm sure you all sided with the husband on that one; now you want to scold these parents for making the only decision that made sense.

grossed out,

Kay

I think all of us who aren't in a substantially similar position to Ashley's family should probably reserve judgment and just thank our personal God that we've been spared that particular heartache. When I first heard this story, I, too, was a bit horrified. Then I followed a link to their website and came to the conclusion that they love their daughter and are trying their best under awful circumstances. So they call her their "Pillow Angel." Would you have selected the same pet name? Probably not, but so what? You may call your children names that I wouldn't call mine. Lucky for you such details about your family's life haven't been exposed to the world for ridicule. This family -- and Ashley -- deserve dignity and respect, like the rest of us. They are trying to do the best they can in an inconceivably difficult situation. Just as the doctors at the hospital that approved the "Ashley Treatment" were. In a perfect world, there would be no need for such a treatment.

Instead of throwing salt at this wounded family, try to understand what they are dealing with and where they are coming from. Then go kiss your "perfect" children goodnight, or feed your cat, or drink a beer. Your careless comments aren't interesting or helpful.