My Letter in Today's NYT
I have a letter in today's NYT about "Ashely's Case." Here it is:
"A Disabled Girl's Rights
Peter Singer ('A Convenient Truth,' Op-Ed, Jan. 26) supports subjecting 'Ashley,' a profoundly intellectually disabled girl, to surgical and hormonal interventions to keep her small.
In backing her parents' decision, he asserts that she has value only 'because her parents and siblings love her and care about her.'
By denying Ashley's equal moral worth simply for being human, Mr. Singer opens the door to the potential for terrible oppression.
After all, if we must demonstrate minimal capacities to earn full moral status, the entire concept of universal human rights becomes untenable."
posted by Wesley J. Smith @ 9:36 AM
2 Comments
2 Comments:
(((applauds)))
Nicely done, succinct and to the point, and giving fully enough information to get someone's gears working before having a knee-jerk reaction to the situation. Bravo, Wesley.
Join over 360 individuals and 73 organizations from 12 countries and 47 states who have signed -
A Statement of Solidarity for the Dignity of People With Disabilities - A Reaction to the "Ashley Treatment"
We, the undersigned individuals and organizations, are in agreement that the growth attenuation therapy administered to the little girl known as Ashley is an affront to her human dignity, and to that of all people with disabilities. Despite the good intentions of both her parents and the doctors who have treated her in accordance with their wishes, we condemn these medical procedures and declare that it is never ethically acceptable to medically alter a human being for the benefit of caregivers. Such unnecessary medical procedures without therapeutic indications demean the essential humanity of the person
undergoing them and of all people with similar disabilities. Whether disabled or not, people must be given the opportunity to grow and
develop according to their own capacity, whatever that may be. It is the duty of both caregivers and the hallmark of a progressive,
civilized society to provide the means by which all of us can reach our full human potential.
Ashley is impaired by an unknown brain disorder. Our hearts go out to her parents, and we recognize that they love Ashley and are trying their best in very trying circumstances to care for their daughter. But these unnecessary medical procedures with no demonstrated
therapeutic purpose, in which doctors have surgically and hormonally altered Ashley to remain small and childlike, are misguided. While it is true that none of us can walk in her parents' shoes, we believe that this approach to acceptable for well-meaning people to deny the essential humanity of people with disabilities in the course of caring for them. People with
disabilities are not the problem. The real issue is the lack of support, care, and help from our social, medical, and civil establishments for Ashley's parents and for all those who care for
people with disabilities. Yes, it is expensive. But the alternative is morally and ethically unacceptable in a society that honors life and
human dignity. We call on our fellow citizens, our government, and our medical establishment to treat people with disabilities as people, not
as problems. We stand together and demand that doctors and social service agencies never again use medicine to strip someone of their
humanity through medical procedures like the "Ashley Treatment," and call on our legislators to pass laws that codify the right of people
with disabilities to their integrity as people.
To add your name to this document electronically, please go to
http://pub6.bravenet.com/guestbook/501900445 .
To read more about Ashley, go to http://www.ashleyx.info .
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