This article, which we found in the Straits Times recently, reports about The Ashley Treatment, which refers to a controversial set of medical procedures undergone by a Seattle child, "Ashley X". Ashley, born in 1997, was a child with severe developmental disabilities and brain impairment due to static encephalopathy of unknown etiology.

The treatments she underwent included growth attenuation via hormonal treatments (an elective medical treatment which involves administering estrogen to advances bone age until separate growth plates in the bones fuse together, halting growth and determining the extent of height.); hysterectomy, bilateral mastectomy, and appendectomy.

Although Ashley sleeps and awakens, and breathes on her own, she is unable to raise her head, sit up, hold a toy, walk, or talk, and must be tube-fed. Nonetheless, she is alert and responsive to her environment, particularly enjoying the music of Andrea Boccelli. Her parents have nicknamed Ashley "Pillow Angel," because she always remains where she is placed, which is usually on a pillow.

In 2004 when Ashley was six and a half years old, she began to show signs of puberty and her parents and doctors began to anticipate a variety of issues common in children with severe neurological impairments.

As these children grow larger, it takes more strength to move them and provide basic bodily care, raising the risk of pressure sores from immobility. Precocious puberty is common in children with various forms of severe brain damage.

In July 2004, Ashley had a hysterectomy (to prevent menstruation) and surgical removal of her nascent breast buds (to prevent breast development). She also underwent an appendectomy. In addition, she recently completed estrogen therapy to permanently stunt her growth.

The parents state that they sought such treatment for the best interests of their daughter, and to improve her quality of life, namely, to enable them to personally continue constant care for her; to reduce the risk of bedsores; to avoid the discomfort that may be associated with menstruation; to prevent pregnancy; to avoid the discomfort of large breasts, which run in Ashley's family; to prevent breast cancer; to prevent appendicitis which occurs in 5% of the population and which would be difficult to diagnose in Ashley as she would be unable to communicate the symptoms. They also believe that without developing secondary sexual characteristics, Ashley will be less vulnerable to sexual abuse.


Our thoughts:

The article about The Ashley Treatement was extremely interesting, and a little bizarre, and after reading the article, we were fascinated to find out more. The fact that The Ashley Treatment was highly controversial further heightened our interest in it. =) Thus, we went onto the World Wide Web to find out more.

After reading articles, responses and considering both views regarding The Ashley Treatment, majority of us felt that we support Ashley’s parents’ decision with the series of treatments as the rewards of the treatment outweghed the risks as given Ashley’s condition, she was not going to grow up, only grow bigger. So why not minimize the amount of discomfort she is forseen to experience as she grows older, and let her enjoy her life to her fullest within medical capabilities?

Not only that, one of the treatments, such as the administering of estrogen, has been performed on children since the 1960s, so therefore, we do not think that this particular treatment is unethical.

You should visit Ashley’s Parent’s Blog to see the pictures of Ashley in there. She’s really cute and actually looks pretty normal, without major or obvious deformities that one usually associates with disabled people. =)

This article, which we found in the Straits Times recently, reports about The Ashley Treatment, which refers to a controversial set of medical procedures undergone by a Seattle child, "Ashley X". Ashley, born in 1997, was a child with severe developmental disabilities and brain impairment due to static encephalopathy of unknown etiology.

The treatments she underwent included growth attenuation via hormonal treatments (an elective medical treatment which involves administering estrogen to advances bone age until separate growth plates in the bones fuse together, halting growth and determining the extent of height.); hysterectomy, bilateral mastectomy, and appendectomy.

Although Ashley sleeps and awakens, and breathes on her own, she is unable to raise her head, sit up, hold a toy, walk, or talk, and must be tube-fed. Nonetheless, she is alert and responsive to her environment, particularly enjoying the music of Andrea Boccelli. Her parents have nicknamed Ashley "Pillow Angel," because she always remains where she is placed, which is usually on a pillow.

In 2004 when Ashley was six and a half years old, she began to show signs of puberty and her parents and doctors began to anticipate a variety of issues common in children with severe neurological impairments.

As these children grow larger, it takes more strength to move them and provide basic bodily care, raising the risk of pressure sores from immobility. Precocious puberty is common in children with various forms of severe brain damage.

In July 2004, Ashley had a hysterectomy (to prevent menstruation) and surgical removal of her nascent breast buds (to prevent breast development). She also underwent an appendectomy. In addition, she recently completed estrogen therapy to permanently stunt her growth.

The parents state that they sought such treatment for the best interests of their daughter, and to improve her quality of life, namely, to enable them to personally continue constant care for her; to reduce the risk of bedsores; to avoid the discomfort that may be associated with menstruation; to prevent pregnancy; to avoid the discomfort of large breasts, which run in Ashley's family; to prevent breast cancer; to prevent appendicitis which occurs in 5% of the population and which would be difficult to diagnose in Ashley as she would be unable to communicate the symptoms. They also believe that without developing secondary sexual characteristics, Ashley will be less vulnerable to sexual abuse.


Our thoughts:

The article about The Ashley Treatement was extremely interesting, and a little bizarre, and after reading the article, we were fascinated to find out more. The fact that The Ashley Treatment was highly controversial further heightened our interest in it. =) Thus, we went onto the World Wide Web to find out more.

After reading articles, responses and considering both views regarding The Ashley Treatment, majority of us felt that we support Ashley’s parents’ decision with the series of treatments as the rewards of the treatment outweghed the risks as given Ashley’s condition, she was not going to grow up, only grow bigger. So why not minimize the amount of discomfort she is forseen to experience as she grows older, and let her enjoy her life to her fullest within medical capabilities?

Not only that, one of the treatments, such as the administering of estrogen, has been performed on children since the 1960s, so therefore, we do not think that this particular treatment is unethical.

You should visit Ashley’s Parent’s Blog to see the pictures of Ashley in there. She’s really cute and actually looks pretty normal, without major or obvious deformities that one usually associates with disabled people. =)