Whose Right?
July 8th, 2008 by DanielPosted in In the News, Opinion
Ten-year old Ashley, born with cerebral palsy, is 4′5″, and 63 pounds- and she’s done growing. Her parents made the decision two years ago to submit her to a treatment which included a hystorectomy, breast surgery, and drugs to stop her growth into adulthood. Today, the “Ashley treatment” is considered by her parents to be a success. Her height and weight will remain the same, and she will never experience menstrual cramps or develop sexually. The treatment neither fixes her condition, nor physically does anything to improve it; and whether this will benefit her or her caretakers the most is debatable.
Never mind that the treatment was (and is) illegal; CNN.com reports that Ashley’s parents have stated, “If parents of children like Ashley believe this treatment will improve their children’s quality of life, then they should be diligent and tenacious in providing it for them. We have a sacred duty to do what we believe is right for our children.”
Ashley, and other children like her, are incapable of making their own decisions, and depend entirely on the assistance of others to accomplish even the most basic functions. Children like Ashley do not talk, walk, or consume any food that doesn’t come through a tube. So they are, as they must and should be, completely under the authority of their parents. But when it comes to making individual decisions, what makes a decision the right one?
For Ashley’s parents, the standard for “rightness” was their belief that their decision improved their child’s quality of life.
But is it right to deprive a human being of the ability to experience growth into adulthood, as different as that adulthood might be from what is considered ‘normal’? “We have a sacred duty to do what we believe is right for our children.” From what source does this ‘sacred duty’ stem? Is it the same source as (what some might claim to be) Ashley’s sacred right to experience the natural course of her life?
Such bioethical questions are far from being black and white, and even the gray shades are turning into a very tempting rainbow of alluring choices. Should we clone humans or harvest embryos for spare body parts? My answer is an emphatic no. But how about Ashley? Her “worst enemies” are height and weight, and, as she will retain the physical and mental capacities of a six-month-old, she will have no need to experience the menstrual cycle. Does this make it right for parents and doctors to toy with her God-given body? What about tampering with the DNA of an unborn child to remove a tendency for cancer? How about electronic implants? Chemical altering pills? Aspirin?
The parents’ defense of their decision, and unfortunately many of my own, echo the assessment of the author of the book of Judges on the state of rebellious Israel: “Everyone did what right in his own eyes.”
3 Responses to “Whose Right?”
By Michael on Jul 8, 2008
My conviction says that we shouldn’t tamper with the bodies that God has given us. Plus, how do we know what goes through the mind of someone like that? Are there any adults with cerebral palsy that can tell us what it was like for them to go through puberty? Who are we to decide someone else’s future for them?
By seven on Jul 10, 2008
That is so sad.
By Sathar on Jul 24, 2008
This story is full of questions concerning this child that may never be answered. One thing for consideration would be Mark 9:14-32 When they come to the other disciples, they saw a large crowe around them and the teachers aruing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet Him. “What are you arguing about with them he asked?” A Man in the crouwd ansered, “Teacher, I brought my son, who is possessed by a spirit taht has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seixes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, and he gnashes his teeth and he becomes ridged. I asked your desiples to help, but they could not. “Oh unbeleiving generation,” Jesus said. “How long shall I stay with you and put up with you. “Bring the Child to me” and as the story goes Jesus asked the childs father, “How long has this been?” and the father replied since a baby. And then the father said “If you can do anything, please help” The Lords reply was “If you can? “Everything is possible for him who believes” Well as the example goes,the child was healed. So the Messiah put the responsability upon the Parents and He puts the same responsability on each and every one of us. We must go to Jesus the Messiah. The Prince of Peace. What if this little girl was like another child in the bible who was healed by the Apostles or like the man at the pool of bethesda? I believe in Miracles..dont you?