Ashley's Case: The Ethics of Arresting the Growth of Children with Serious Disability

Abstract

This article analyzes the justifications and ethics of attenuating the growth of children with serious disability. It considers the case of Ashley, a child with profound developmental and cognitive disabilities whose growth was attenuated through high-dose estrogen treatment and surgery. The goals of Ashley's parents and physicians were to keep her small, thereby making it easier for her parents to care for her at home. Perspectives supporting and opposing growth attenuation are presented. It is suggested that community resources and supports, rather than medical strategies, are necessary to address the social challenges of community living.

KEYWORDS:

• Ashley treatment
• bioethics
• community living
• developmental disability
• growth attenuation
• intellectual disability