Parents keep their girl 'child-sized' to give her a better life
Ashley, a nine-year-old girl is suffering from severe brain impairment called static encephalopathy, an unusual brain condition that can never be improved, which means she cannot walk, talk, keep her head up in bed or swallow food and has a mental ability of a three month old baby.
In order to improve her quality of life, her parents injected her with hormonal doses that impeded her physical growth. They have also gone to the extent for surgery to block breast growth and had her uterus and appendix removed.
The parents argued that because of her small size, Ashley will receive more care from people who will be able to carry her,
'Ashley will be moved and taken on trips more frequently and will have more exposure to activities and social gatherings ... instead of lying down in her bed staring at TV all day long.'
The case was approved by an ethics committee, but has brought allegations of eugenics and of creating a 21st-century Frankinstein's monster.
The BBC's Laura Trevelyan says the case has triggered an ethical row in the US about the limits of medical intervention.
However, the couple has defended their stance by saying that it would be the only solution 'in their little girl's best interest'.
I guess there is no point in arguing the case. The parents have done it not for their own expediency but for the sake of their 'Pillow Angel' as they call her. Since, she's never going to improve and that she will have intellectual attributes of a baby then there's no harm in limiting her physical growth as well. Thus, the decision about treatment should be left completely to the parents.
