Is It Ethical To Stunt The Growth Of A Severely Mentally & Physically Disable Child?

Question

The parents of a 9-year old Ashley who had her uterus and breasts tissue removed plus given large doses of hormones to halt her growth think so.

Ashley’s parents feel they can better care for little Ashley if she remains at a manageable size. They often refer to Ashley has their “pillow child.” The parents feel if Ashley remains at her current weight of 65lbs instead of reaching her adult weight of 115lbs, it would be much easier for them to include her in typical family activities, car trips, feeding, bathing and simply caring for her. It will also reduce the chances of her developing bedsores, and other diseases that is usually associated with bed-ridden patients. Also she will not have to experience the discomfort of pending womanhood such as her menstrual or worry about developing breast cancer.

Ashley’s parents stated, “Unless you are living the experience you have no clue what it is like to be the bedridden child or their caregivers. Caring for Ashley involves hard work and continual work, {but} she is a blessing not a burden.”

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-j.GVcRI5fr.N3YUTUdbbUg--?p=1343#comment

Answer 1

in her case, yes. She is severely mentally retarded, and will always have the mental capacity of an infant. She would never be able to move or even feed herself.
doing this allows her parents to care for her at home in the best way they possibly can.

Answer 2

This is a decision for medical professionals to make, but the first thing that crossed my mind when I read the title question is that it is possible that it is in the best interest of the child's health to stunt her growth. If she is indeed so disabled that there is no hope of her ever being able to walk or feed herself, it may be better for her to have a smaller size than for her to have a difficult-to-manage large size, especially if a smaller size can spare her some of the discomforts bedridden patients suffer, as her parents said. As long as it does not further impede her physical and mental abilities, stunting her growth can be seen as a useful medical procedure meant to improve her quality of life in the long run. I certainly think from what you have told me that Ashley would experience a much happier life if she stayed at a manageable size, while I cannot think of any benefits she would gain from reaching her adult size. This should not be a rule of thumb for general practice, but with Ashley's situation, I think it is best.

Answer 3

an excellent question --however it has dismal answers -- and that is facts of life. we can not and should not answer this question as long as we are not "parents" to that child. Yes, legislators could legislate points of actions and rules and regulations on how to deal with similar and unique situations but -- it should be left to the closest people to the said child to make the final and most difficult decisions. I do not rest my case, nor the legislators and hospitals and all concerned have come up with a unique and acceptable answer/s to society. It is one of those unique situation where "we want to play G-d" with the Creation. I do not have an exact answer but hope my comments would help.

Answer 4

Ethically, given that we have been given all the correct information...and that there is no other information to consider...it is. Sometimes it is difficult to come to ethical decisions, which would benefit everyone involved, including a situation such as Ashley's.

Answer 5

Yes and no.

This is a hard one to decide, and I feel so sorry for the parents.

I do not know what I would do in their situation, but I can honestly see their point and understand their fears, since there is a reality that they could both die before she does.

Answer 6

Ethical? No.

The parents are trying to make it easier to take care of the little girl - long term.

I cannot pass judgement because I am not in their situation, but I cannot believe this would be ethical.

Answer 7

Is the child adversely affected by these procedures? Under the circumstances, probably not. Therefore, it is not unethical. The parents are doing the best they can.

Answer 8

shes not a pet, shes a human being. so, although it would make it easier to care for her, stunting her growth based not on medical need but merely by preference is not something that can be ethically done-

Answer 9

I don't think they should do this but it is there choice. My wife works with several mentally challenged people. They are a real joy to be around. Personally, I would say no.

Answer 10

Yeah, they did the same thing to George W. Bush. Sad, really.