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Medical Ethics Forum: The Ashley Treatment. A Discussion on the Respect for Persons, Beneficence and


The Ashley Treatment refers to a controversial set of medical procedures undergone by a Seattle child, "Ashley X", to prevent puberty and interfere with her fertility. Ashley is now 20 years old and has severe developmental disabilities due to static encephalopathy- she is assumed to be at an infant level mentally and physically. This case study will examine larger issues in the clinical context of consent, tension between parents and practitioners, tensions between legal and ethical questions and other related reproductive ethical issues.

Katarina Lee, J.D., M.A.

Clinical Ethics Fellow

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy

Baylor College of Medicine

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