[jesyflowers]

I don't know if this qualifies as breaking news or not, please move to the appropriate forum as needed.

What does everyone think about this?

Treatment keeps girl child-sized
Ashley (picture from The Ashley Treatment website)
Ashley's parents refer to their daughter as "Pillow Angel"
Parents of a severely disabled girl in the US have revealed that they are keeping her child-sized in order to give her a better life.

The nine-year-old, named Ashley, has the mental ability of a three-month-old baby and cannot walk or talk.

BBC NEWS | Americas | Treatment keeps girl child-sized

Personally, I am ambivalent as to how I feel about this. I probably just need to think about it more...

[Teareerah]

Post-partum abortion. The logical next step for progressives.

[fabrizioitwloch]

That is sick......Those parent have to be breaking the law....And I used the term parents loosely.

I'm thinking the child has more logic than the parents....

[fabrizioitwloch]

Post-partum abortion. The logical next step for progressives.

Sadly, it will come to that.

[annouhMus]

I don't know if this qualifies as breaking news or not, please move to the appropriate forum as needed.

What does everyone think about this?



BBC NEWS | Americas | Treatment keeps girl child-sized

Personally, I am ambivalent as to how I feel about this. I probably just need to think about it more...

I heard about this on TV, and after considring the situation I feel:

that IF (repeat) "IF" it is definitely determined that she will not improve, Then the action would appear reasonable, again, as long as it does no apparent harm. A child size body would be much easier to care for that a full grown adult.

[Usogwdkb]

I must agree with Doniston here. For all the reasons the parents gave, I believe they made a smart, though admittedly, controversial decision. All too often, these children mature physically and parents find they can no long care for them. Then must then be placed in a long-term care facility where they are often subjected to rape and molestation. With the hormone therapy, Ashley will remain small enough for her parents to manage which will help eliminate the need for a professional facility.
However, I'm wouldn't want this treatment for every mentally retarded case because clearly, some can become functional adults.

[fabrizioitwloch]

I must agree with Doniston here. For all the reasons the parents gave, I believe they made a smart, though admittedly, controversial decision. All too often, these children mature physically and parents find they can no long care for them. Then must then be placed in a long-term care facility where they are often subjected to rape and molestation. With the hormone therapy, Ashley will remain small enough for her parents to manage which will help eliminate the need for a professional facility.
However, I'm wouldn't want this treatment for every mentally retarded case because clearly, some can become functional adults.

While you have some valid points, I can just see the worst of this situation. I also can't help but predict that your last sentence becoming the norm.

I knew a boy who was mentally challenged and couldn't walk....His parents took care of him and worked with him non the less....He is my age and he can walk, can talk, manages money to a degree and etc......It took time but he managed to learn and develop.

I'm not saying that this girl can do the same, but how will one ever know unless you try.

[Usogwdkb]

While you have some valid points, I can just see the worst of this situation. I also can't help but predict that your last sentence becoming the norm.

I knew a boy who was mentally challenged and couldn't walk....His parents took care of him and worked with him non the less....He is my age and he can walk, can talk, manages money to a degree and etc......It took time but he managed to learn and develop.

I'm not saying that this girl can do the same, but how will one ever know unless you try.

The particular disorder this child has is permanent and the chances of her mind progressing are nil. Ashley is a nine year old girl with a three month old brain. She deserves the best care her parents can provide because she'll remain at three months for the rest of her life. If there was any hope that she would progress, I'd definitely rethink my position, but static encephalopathy is a lot more than "mentally challenged".

[Peterli]

Post-partum abortion. The logical next step for progressives.

That's quite a logical leap - I suppose the next step in the progression is the systematic annihilation of all mankind. I mean, where do we stop on this slippery-slope, right?

Of course, it appears to me that you might have simply been taking the opportunity to make an irrelevant partisan jab. No sense letting the subject being discussed interfere with your construction and subsequent destruction of straw-men.

[fabrizioitwloch]

The particular disorder this child has is permanent and the chances of her mind progressing are nil. Ashley is a nine year old girl with a three month old brain. She deserves the best care her parents can provide because she'll remain at three months for the rest of her life. If there was any hope that she would progress, I'd definitely rethink my position, but static encephalopathy is a lot more than "mentally challenged".

I just caught in on the news. It appears the girl would have no chance of improvement.

I'll say this, the decision that the parents had to make was a tough one.

[Peterli]

I'm not saying that this girl can do the same, but how will one ever know unless you try.

It appears that they have been...

[fabrizioitwloch]

That's quite a logical leap - I suppose the next step in the progression is the systematic annihilation of all mankind. I mean, where do we stop on this slippery-slope, right?

Of course, it appears to me that you might have simply been taking the opportunity to make an irrelevant partisan jab.

You have to admit that it's a possibility...I mean, we are now looking at PB abortions, so what would be next......Makes me sick to think about it.

[Peterli]

You have to admit that it's a possibility...I mean, we are now looking at PB abortions, so what would be next......Makes me sick to think about it.

I would admit no such thing. The main objection (and probably a valid one) to partial birth abortion is the emotive argument against it - it looks awful and makes everyone sad. That is to say, if the fetus is capable of feeling pain, it is being brutalized (and if not, we feel brutalized on its behalf). However, the fetus is not a US citizen, as a baby who has been born is. There is no leap to "post-partum abortions", logical or otherwise. It would make as much sense to say, "what's next - the legalization of rape?"

It's just an attempt to poison the well with a straw-man argument.

[fabrizioitwloch]

It's just an attempt to poison the well with a straw-man argument.

I guess we'll find out in time. ...Thankfully chances are I'll be dead and won't have to worry about it.

[Peterli]

I guess we'll find out in time. ...Thankfully chances are I'll be dead and won't have to worry about it.

In this day and age, if murdering people becomes legal, I don't think it would be children. My guess is that it would be people killing one another for sport or entertainment.

[fabrizioitwloch]

My guess is that it would be people killing one another for sport or entertainment.

I had some a-hole run me off the road the other night that I'd like it to be sport...
Well, I don't him died, just for me to pound him a little.

Anyway, this is off topic and I am trying to be a good poster this year. or is it

[annouhMus]

While you have some valid points, I can just see the worst of this situation. I also can't help but predict that your last sentence becoming the norm.

I knew a boy who was mentally challenged and couldn't walk....His parents took care of him and worked with him non the less....He is my age and he can walk, can talk, manages money to a degree and etc......It took time but he managed to learn and develop.

I'm not saying that this girl can do the same, but how will one ever know unless you try.

Apparently it has been shown that she CANNOT progress beyond the baby status. After all she is already nine years old. and has not progressed. Do you think there is ANY posibility that she can attain any kind of reasonable function???

To me, these things should be treated on a case by case basis. It seems they have done that.

[annouhMus]

I guess we'll find out in time. ...Thankfully chances are I'll be dead and won't have to worry about it.

Is that wishful thinking on your part? or what you think the rest of us wish?????

[medio]

~Snip~ What does everyone think about this?
BBC NEWS | Americas | Treatment keeps girl child-sized

We’ve seen this stuff coming for a long time now, that’s why we were so concernend about Terry Chavo and the subject of abortion. Lets break the ice on a few more abominations.

[km2000]

I must agree with Doniston here. For all the reasons the parents gave, I believe they made a smart, though admittedly, controversial decision. All too often, these children mature physically and parents find they can no long care for them. Then must then be placed in a long-term care facility where they are often subjected to rape and molestation. With the hormone therapy, Ashley will remain small enough for her parents to manage which will help eliminate the need for a professional facility.
However, I'm wouldn't want this treatment for every mentally retarded case because clearly, some can become functional adults.

I agree.

I don't see how the parents have harmed the child. Have they harmed her mentally or physically? I think they have taken necessary steps to ensure they will be her caregivers for as long as possible, which is always in a child's best interest. Being around the love improves the girl's quality of life.