What is your opinion..

[missjef]

On the story of the 9 year old girl with the brain age of a 3 month old who has been featured on the news today? If you havent heard this story, basically the parents have given the go ahead for her to be put on growth stunting hormones so they will be able to still lift & carry her, and she is to have an operation to stop her from having periods which would also mean she couldnt have children. Also she has had breast tissue removed so she wont develop.
I personally do not see the problem with this, as she will never be cured from this, and they are doing it so they will be able to still care for her, as it may become difficult if they did not do this. But lots of people have complained about the ethics of this saying that it is really wrong, because it will mean that she will never become a woman.
What are your views?

[stokeace]

well i think the parents are very brave to put their daughters welfare first she will never develop mentally as well as physically they could have easily dodged their responsabilities and put her in care they are only thinking of the care of their daughter in the years that lie ahead that im sure will be traumatic and difficult enough.good luck to them i say.

[Lonnie]

Ethics smethics, sorry missjef, These do-gooders really pi$$ me off, excuse the french, they don't have to deal; with it, you have taken the common sense attitude, and well done.

You may or may not know, I have an Autistic daughter, 22 years old, with a mental age of about 20 months all round, she hasn't started her monthlies, and to be honest, it scares the life out of me.

I've discussed this same issue with my wife many times, and we came to the same conclusion that that darling little girls parents came to, and we've discussed it with the her consultant.

Lets face it, these two girls, and others like them, have a right to life, the best that can be provided, but they will always be in care, i'll give you an example of what can happen, and the burden it puts on others,

True story, I have a cousin, happily married, her daughter is on the Aspergers side of Autism, she wanted to prove she's a woman, moved in with her slightly metally disabled boyfriend, had a baby, she can't cope, my cousin looks after them, the baby, their house, her house, her husband and other child, unfortunately, they live about 300 miles away, so all we can do is keep in touch an d give moral support.

Sorry for the tirade, this sort of thing really gets to me.

[sair5412]

I agree with you missjef.

It's a difficult one as I can see both points of view. But, as a parent, I can see how difficult it must be for them to have made this decision in the first place even though it may seem selfish to some. She would never be capable of having children anyway, due to her mental state. I see how others think it is "ethically" wrong but they are her parents, they love her, they know what is best for her and for taking care of her. She doesn't have the ability to make these desicions herself. Her parents and the doctors are the only ones who can do this for her. I think people should leave her parents to do what they need to do. Bring up their daughter the best way they can, with advice from doctors. It must be hard enough for them, without being critisised by people who are nothing to do with them or there family.

[Goodsoulette]

I know I wouldnt do it and have explained how I know in the news section, having a matured cousin who suffered the exact illness. The only part I can almost understand would be the hysterectomy to make sure she could never become pregnant, whereas I would think that maybe contraceptive injections or other forms of steralisation would be better, in my opinion.

However, Im not a doctor and im not her parent and obviouusly they are doing what they feel or have been advised would be best.

[PatriciaH]

Im with you as well missjeff, what a caring couple they sound , im sure theve got their daughters welfare in their hearts and i wish them well

[ummmm1]

I agree as well...

[joko]

if they don't do this they they would only have more problems as she gets bigger and begins periods etc, which will make it harder for them as they get older too.

they only difference in her as a person will be that she will be smaller so although I can see both sides i think they are probably doing the right thing

what will happen to her when she is technically say 60 years old? will she age normally?

this is a very thought provoking issue

[raysparx1]

I think they made the right decision, not easy,but I feel it is the right one, there but for the grace of god goes you or I.

[Goodsoulette]

Hey Joko, obviously I have no idea about her but my cousin who had encephalitis as a baby and is now technically described as having global disabilities and in a static condition would live to a normal age, so her reaching 60 is very probable. Have been reading this case thoroughly as it is of obvious interest to our family, it appears that the aging process would not be effected at all. She would still get grey hair and wrinkles etc etc

[maggie01]

I am sure they have their daughter's best interest at heart but I believe in quality of life and whatever they do, this little girl does not really have a life.

[chitchat]

I think they have done the right thing. Its a hard choice they have made and I wouldn't want to be in their shoes to have a make a decision like that. Why do people stick their noses in - 99.9% of them will never be in their position so they shouldnt judge them.

[Goodsoulette]

Chitchat, I really think the reason people stick their noses in is because 1)its unprecedented, and some people know children like this or who this could be offered to later on 2) is it not a step towards eugenics?

[fee-is-me]

I think it is appalling.

I can understand them wanting to ensure she did not have periods - for her own sake (discomfort, pain as well as being totally pointless to her, realistically) but a growth stunting hormone...?

Immoral. Disgusting. Undignified. Wrong.

(In my opinion, of course.)

[Miss Inquiry]

I have mixed opinions on this. The channel 4 news yesterday posed both sides of the argument. There was a lecturer from Reading University on, stating that exactly the same effects could have been reached without the need for any surgery. So I was quite alarmed. But on the other hand, I am not lucky enought to have childern yet, and can only belive that a parent would take the best course of action for their individual case. With this in mind, they deserve a medal for being so caring and actually loving her unconditionally. Sadly not all children are so lucky.

[chicklin]

I agree with the majority or the views expressed on her so far. Although my first reaction was that it was a morally wrong decision to take, as the facts of the case have unfolded my opinion has done a complete turn around. I now applaud the parents decision as they seem to have made it based on what is best for their daughter in the long-term in terms of her comfort, hygene, and their ability to care for her as best they can. They haven't done it for selfish reasons and I'm sure they must have agonised over this decision. I'll bet there are a lot of parents like myself who are counting their blessings today. My heart goes out to all concerned.

[joko]

i was under the impression that the 'growth stunting hormone' would occur naturally after the hysterectomy etc - i.e, she simply would not grow any more, rather than being injected with something...?

have i got that wrong?