The FDA has finally banned the use of a horrible form of “aversion therapy” at the Judge Rotenberg Center in Massachusetts.
“Aversion therapy” or “shock therapy” was used on children at the center.
It used a machine that gave an electrical shock to special needs patients. The “treatment” is really a form of physical punishment. Of course, it was extremely controversial. Numerous human rights organizations criticized the practice.
The FDA decided to get involved in the case. Many people were surprised but happy about this. The FDA banned the machines the JRC used in the “treatments” altogether.
This is only the third time the FDA has enacted a full-on, unilateral ban on a “medical device.” The FDA said that this ban was in the interest of protecting public health.
By banning the devices, the FDA ends the JRC’s long and controversial practice. No other medical centers on Earth use this form of punishment.
The shock “therapy” primarily affected patients with autism. Many children were on a regular regiment of shock sessions.
The “procedures” were meant to help autistic patients not “act autistic.” They were often administered for no discernible reason.
In 2007, someone strapped a student at the center to a gurney and shocked them 77 times in the course of three hours. However, investigators learned that the order to shock the child came from an outside prankster.
According to the center, Massachusetts’ state family courts approved the use of the devices. Family lawyers have successfully argued in support of shock therapy. Advocacy groups deride this as horrific and ableist.
There has been international outcry about these treatments. While the center argues the practice is successful in reducing the symptoms of autism a child shows, many have argued that the shock technique is basically torture. Numerous advocacy groups say that whether it works or not, it’s inhumane and shouldn’t be done.
The FDA stepped in after it was clear that the devices were so terrible. It was extremely unsafe for the kids at the center.
The agency noted that the punishment could increase risks of:
Human rights’ organizations are celebrating the FDA’s bold and decisive step.
