Hospital Broke Law when Doctors Sterilized Disabled Girl

A report filed on Tuesday showed that a Seattle, Washington Hospital knew that it was breaking a state law that involved sterilizing the severely developmentally disabled girl only known as Ashley. Back in 2004 a hysterectomy was performed on Ashley in order to stunt her growth and make her easier to care for. The decision was made by her parents and Seattle doctors.

Ashley was only 6 years old at the time of the surgery. Doctors removed her uterus and breast buds, permanently sterilizing her. The Seattle hospital's ethics committee supported the surgery and ongoing treatment which involved hormone therapy. The committee also told doctors to not perform the surgery until court orders to do so were approved. In the state of Washington, no child sterilization process can happen without a court order.

Although the hospital was ready to wait for the court to approve, the lawyer for the girl's parents said that the surgery could go on without the court because the law did not apply in Ashley's special case.

When Ashley was born she was diagnosed with extreme brain damage. This damage left her in a baby like state. She is unable to sit up, walk, talk, grasp objects, or even crawl. Her parents believed this would the end of Ashley's life until Seattle doctors intervened. The sterilization and growth stunting would make life for Ashley and her parents much easier. On their blog her parents wrote "As responsible and loving parents, deeply concerned for the well-being of our child, we provided a better quality of life to our Ashley, who is doing very well under our love and care...we hope that other families of the many children like Ashley will likewise be able to care for and benefit their children without undue obstacles." The surgery and treatment would all be to her own benefit, though disability and feminist groups disagree, saying that sterilizing Ashley takes away her rights as a disabled female.

The problem now lies with the hospital who will have to go to court to resolve the issues with the state law. Ashley's parents hope the ruling will be in favor of the hospital and to parents of disabled children who just want the best for their child's life and their own. Those on the state's side hope that the result of the court hearing will be an end to this type of surgery known as the "Ashley Treatment."

Sources:
AP
CNN
The Olympian