It did not get court order before disabled gir, 6 had hysterectomy in 2004.....

    I came across this article a few days ago and had wanted to write about it because I had written an article regarding the first part to this. The entire controversy behind this little girl nicknamed "Pillow Angel" is full of many emotions. I had first seen it on the internet news and then I found it in one of my local newspapers.

   "A hospital acknowledged breaking state law when doctors performed a hysterectomy on a severely developmentally, disabled girl named Ashley, whose growth was medically stunted to make caring for her easier for her parents.
    Sterilization surgeries must not be performed on children without a court order. Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center acknowledged Tuesday after an investigation by Washington Protection and Advocacy System. The hospital agreed to appoint "someone with a disability rights perspective to its ethics committee."
   Okay, all well and good. They have finally admitted that the surgery they performed upon Ashley, who was six years old at the time, was against the law. Is the hospital now going to have to answer for its arrogant behavior? Will we see law suits being filed against them?
    I still have a problem with Ashley's parents. They need to answer for what they had requested done with this beautiful little girl. The pain and anguish she has had to endure is beyond comprehension. We treat prisoners and enemies of war with more dignity than what this little girl has received in her short life.
    Her parents refer to her as their "Pillow Angel" and they want to keep her the size of a pillow so they can handle her and take care of her for the rest of her life. She was given hormones to deliberately stunt her physical growth and then demanded she have a hysterectomy so she would not develop. All this was accomplished by the time she was six years old.
   "The girl, identified only as Ashley, underwent surgery in 2004, when she was six years old, to remove her uterus and breast tissue and was given growth stunting hormones.
    The hospital's ethics committee supported the treatment but noted that court review would be required. An attorney for the girl's parents disagreed, saying the state law did not apply in this case and the hospital performed the procedures without court permission."
   "We deeply regret that a court order was not obtained and that an independent third party was not sought to represent Ashley."
   I thought this was one of the first requests authorities must ask for? Why wasn't Ashly represented by a court appointed attorney as other children are? Why hasn't the state stepped in to investigate the circumstances surrounding this defenseless little girl?
   Since when do parents have the kind of lattitude to do as they please as these parents have. All under the guise that they will be able to take better care of her..... So to take care of a disabled adult would be beyond there know how? It might be a little difficult? They might have to go out of their way? It is their daughter!!!!!!
   "We (the hospital) take full responsibility for the miscommunication between the ethics committee and the treating physicians," said Dr. David Fisher, the hospital's medical director. We have introduced new safeguards so that procedures requiring a court order will have one obtained before they begin."
    This leaves little six year old Ashley where? Is anyone taking her case to represent her and what is best for her? Is anyone coming forward to be a voice for her?
   "Ashley cannot sit up, walk or speak. Her parents say keeping her small will allow them to continue caring for her at home even when she is an adult.......SOME CRITICS CALL THE PARENT'S ACTIONS PERVERSE AND AKIN TO EUGENICS........." What are you thinking???