Posted on 01/03/2007 1:14:08 PM PST by Lorianne
SEATTLE This is about Ashley's dignity. Everybody examining her case seems to agree at least about that.
Ashley is a 9-year-old girl who has static encephalopathy, a severe brain impairment. She cannot walk or talk. She cannot keep her head up, roll over or sit up by herself. She is fed with a tube. Her parents call her "Pillow Angel" because she stays right where they place her, usually on a pillow.
Her parents say they feared that their angel would become too big one day too big to lift, too big to move, too big to take along on a family outing.
And so they decided to keep her small.
In a highly unusual case that is stirring ethical debate in the medical community and elsewhere, doctors at Seattle Children's Hospital and the parents involved are describing how Ashley has received treatment over the last few years designed to stunt her growth.
The treatment, known as "growth attenuation," is expected to keep Ashley's height at about 4 feet 5 and her weight at about 75 pounds for the rest of her life. Doctors expect her to have a normal lifespan. Had she not been given the treatment, doctors estimate, she would have grown into a woman of average height and weight about 5 feet 6 and 125 pounds.
The parents' decision has drawn criticism and even outrage from some doctors and caregivers, who say such treatment is a violation of a person's dignity. Some say it's also a violation of the medical oath: First do no harm.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
True. I shall do that.
I am 6 ft. I hit that by age 14. I finally stopped growing tall, but my feet grew until I was in my mid 20's.
Wow. You mean your feet, like where your shoes go? My husband wears a size 15 in a tennis shoe!!! Hey, I see you joined up on my birthday, in the year 2000. If I remember correctly, that was the day they took Elian Gonzales. Is that what brought you here?
Might be less stress on her organs to keep her that size. I dunno...
Yeah, for a woman, I wear a size 11 1/2 in mens. I have to really hunt to find decent womens dress shoes, but sports shoes I go straight to mens sizes.
I did sign up because of Elian Gonzales. I will never forget waking up that morning and seeing federal agents being used in a custody battle that way...
She wasn't born with a feeding tube either.
I can only assume by your oh-so-pleasant response that you disagree with the parents. Fine. But until you have to lug around a full grown adult who can not take care of herself, I think you should reserve judgment.
I did not state my opinion of what they have done either way. As a parent, I can only imagine the heartbreak they have already gone through. I have no idea what I would do in the same situation, and until you have been there, you have no idea what you would do, either.
Again, I am not a veteran, and nor do any of my family currently serve in the military. Am I not allowed to support the War on Terror? Because, according to your logic, I would not be permitted to comment on any military affair because "I am not in their position" (your words).
Your logic fails, sorry. People are entitled to their opinion regardless of their "position" so long as their opinion is based upon reasonableness and objectivity.
And, presumably as a parent who does not wish to "lug" around a full grown adult, I suspect that you would be in favor of amputating this poor girl's arms and legs for the sake of your carrying convenience as well. Indeed, she doesn't use her limbs anyway and they could get (*shudder*) bed sores or something. And what's an elective amputation or four after a needless hysterectomy and double mastectomy anyway? /sarc.
Those who protested were probably pro-life. The only fear I have of making changes to this girl is that adult stem-cell research may have been able to help her in the future. Keeping her at home is best, of course, but the rape excuse is bazaar, as everyone is in danger.
I once saw a 1950's SciFi movie where a mad scientist kept his wife's brain in a jar so that she would always be with him.
If I were the mad scientist, the brain would be the *last* part I kept alive.
Oh, Hildy ... considering how we utterly disagreed on Terry being starved to death as "compassionate", I wouldn't expect us to agree on keeping a little one small "compassionate". Both situations are for the convenience of the caregiver. I do have to say that someone being starved to death is more heinous. Yes, I know, you don't see that as heinous - being starved to death ... as in Terri's situation in Florida.
And as for this: The most common cause is from allowing a disabled person to sit for long periods of time along with poor skin care - both of which occur when a caregiver is unable to lift and move the disabled person as often as they should.
No kidding. My mother and my aunt, throughout their fifties and early sixties, FOR YEARS took care of my bed ridden grandmother who suffered from severe dementia. There was nary a bed sore ever on her. Proper care eviscerates the need for elective surgeries to unnaturally stunt a disabled person's growth, and you know that.
People say that God gives special children to special people. It's a good thing he did not give one to lurker or NMH. Having an elderly relative that requires care later in life is a totally different situation than a child that requires a lifetime of 24 hour care.
Neither has walked in these peoples shoes and it sounds like it's a good thing they haven't.
You lose on the compassion issue on this one. The problem with you is that you only see black and white. Life is not like that. Playing God? The minute a tube was stuck down this girl's throat God was out of it. Thank God she has people who love her and people like you aren't in charge.
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