At age 10, little Ashley is 4'5" tall, weighs 65 pounds, and won't be growing anymore. She was born with static encephalopathy, a form of permanent and unchanging brain damage. Doctors say she has the mind of a six-month-old with no hope of progressing. Her parents call her their "Pillow Angel" for being able to do little more than lay propped on a pillow.
In 2004, Ashley's parents, who prefer to remain anonymous, convinced a hospital to perform a hysterectomy, remove her breasts, and give her a high-dose estrogen therapy treatment, all to stop Ashley's body from growing and maturing, now called the "Ashley Treatment" or "growth attenuation therapy". According to the medical community, her mind will never progress beyond that of an infant and now her body will never grow into adulthood.
This is an extremely volatile topic for everyone, not only the parties involved. Since the procedures were completed, the Washington hospital where the treatments were performed has admitted it broke state law in doing so. And, the endocrinologist who administered Ashley's treatment has committed suicide. Many in the medical community and parents of mentally disabled children have spoken out loudly against this therapy. Some parents
Sadly, this seems like a no-win situation for all. Being a parent and being me, I can see both sides. If my child were born with irreversible brain damage, how would I cope with her growing up and my growing old? How frightening the prospect must be of not being able to care for a full-grown 100+ pound infant because I am now 60 or 65 or… Yet how do I give up all hope that one day a treatment or cure will be found?
As a medical professional, does this treatment go against the Hippocratic Oath to "never do harm"? Who is playing God? Is it the parent's because it is their request and their wish or is it the medical professionals who administer the care? Who decides if other children should have the same treatment?
So many questions, and no simple answers. Certainly everyone is entitled to the right to grow up, but if the mind will never grow up, is altering the body to match inherently wrong? Is deciding the care of another human being who is (& has always been) incapable of making that decision (or any decision) for themselves?
Makes me thank the Universe every single day that my children were born healthy and pray that I may never may never face the choices these people have had to face. I think when all is said and done, I come back to the Bible verse I remind myself of on a regular basis, Matthew 7:1, Judge not, lest ye be judged.
