Unjustifiable Non-Therapy: Response to the Issue of Growth Attenuation for Young People on the Basis of Disability

Gunther and Diekema (2006) have described a controversial intervention they provided to Ashley, a 6-year-old girl with profound and multiple impairments, which they refer to as "growth-attenuation therapy." This intervention, approved and apparently promoted by the parents, consisted of hi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Intellectual and developmental disabilities Vol. 45; no. 5; pp. 351 - 353
Main Authors:	Bersani, Hank, Jr, Rotholz, David A, Eidelman, Steven M, Pierson, Joanna L, Bradley, Valerie J, Gomez, Sharon C, Havercamp, Susan M, Silverman, Wayne P, Yeager, Mark H, Morin, Diane, Wehmeyer, Michael L, Carabello, Bernard J, Croser, M. Doreen
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 01-10-2007
Subjects:	Child Criticism Developmental Disabilities Disabled Children Drug Therapy Humans Intervention Mental Health Services - supply & distribution Milieu Therapy Misconceptions Severe Mental Retardation United States Young Children United States
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Summary:	Gunther and Diekema (2006) have described a controversial intervention they provided to Ashley, a 6-year-old girl with profound and multiple impairments, which they refer to as "growth-attenuation therapy." This intervention, approved and apparently promoted by the parents, consisted of high doses of estrogen to bring about a permanent attenuation in her size. Together with a hysterectomy and removal of both breast buds, the intention was to minimize the likelihood of a future out-of-home placement by maximizing the future comfort of this child and ensuring a manageable care-giving burden for parents who wanted very much to maintain their daughter in their loving environment. As the current leadership of the former American Association on Mental Retardation and now the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, the authors view growth attenuation as a totally unacceptable option. They share the concerns raised by Brosco and Feudtner (2006), and add their own to theirs.
ISSN:	1934-9556 1934-9491
DOI:	10.1352/0047-6765(2007)45[351:UNRTTI]2.0.CO;2