ADVERTISEMENT
Faithfully Magazine
  • News
  • Clippings
  • Features
  • Inspiration
  • Members
    • Dashboard
  • About Us
    • Staff and Advisors
    • Write for Us
    • Advertise With Us
SUBSCRIBE
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Clippings
  • Features
  • Inspiration
  • Members
    • Dashboard
  • About Us
    • Staff and Advisors
    • Write for Us
    • Advertise With Us
No Result
View All Result
Faithfully Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Advertisement
saint paul school of theology web banner

Senators Want FDA to Ban Use of Electric Shock Devices on Students

FM Editors by FM Editors
October 26, 2021
in Education, News
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
feet

(Photo: Artem Labunsky/Unsplash)

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on RedditShare on LinkedInEmail This
ShareTweetPin It

By Sara Luterman, The 19th

Multiple senators are pushing for an end to the use of electric shock devices on people with disabilities, a tool that is now used by only one school in the United States, where most of the students are Black and Latino boys and men.

RELATED STORIES

Pastor John Gray to Return to the Pulpit After Surviving Near-Fatal Health Scare

FBI Search of Trump Home Likely Vetted Carefully, Despite Claims of Witch Hunt

At Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton, Massachusetts, some students at the school wear devices at all times, while staff members monitor them for infractions. Students who engage in an undesirable behavior may receive a painful shock. Students can also be put in four-point restraint and shocked repeatedly for transgressions ranging from self-harm to failing to pick up a jacket when told.

The school, which uses an extreme form of behavior modification as its primary teaching tool, bills itself as a last resort for the most difficult and dangerous cases. Many of the students are autistic or have intellectual disabilities, but others are also admitted with psychiatric diagnoses such as bipolar disorder. Studies show that Black boys are often seen as more dangerous, older, and less innocent than white peers.

Legal battles over the use of these devices have been waged for decades. Historically, the devices have primarily been used on autistic students, but in recent years, use has expanded to people with other social and emotional disabilities.

It seemed in March 2020, though, that the fight over the use of shock devices might finally be over. The FDA banned them, saying in a news release that they caused “depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, pain, burns, and tissue damage.”

But it was not. With the pandemic and ongoing court battles, nothing at the Judge Rotenberg Center changed. Furthermore, in July 2021, a federal appeals court overturned the decision, claiming the ban was not within the FDA’s authority. The use of punishing electric shock devices at the Judge Rotenberg Center has continued without pause.

In September, the FDA quietly filed an appeal. Now, Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and a handful of other Democratic senators are publicly expressing their support. In a letter shared first with The 19th, Murphy praised the FDA and Department of Justice for choosing to file another appeal.

“We appreciate your defense of the rule [banning electric shock devices] and ask that you continue to prioritize the protection of people with disabilities by ending this dangerous practice,” he wrote.  Six other senators have signed on, including Sens. Maggie Hassan and Bob Casey.

In an exclusive interview with The 19th,  Murphy described the use of electric shocks as “something that belongs in the dustbin of history” and something that should not “be practiced in modern medicine.” He said he is considering legislation to address the issue.

“It may be we need to weigh in definitively and give the FDA the power to regulate [shock devices] or ban them outright,” Murphy said.

Some parents of students at the Judge Rotenberg Center  believe that these electric shock devices are the only way to keep their children healthy and safe. They laud painful electric shocks as an alternative to excessive psychiatric medication.

Advertisement

The children do not necessarily agree. Jennifer Msumba, a former student, described the experience to CBS News  as “like being underground in hell.” Given the choice between medication and electric shocks, Msumba said, “I’ve been one of those people that was all drugged up on so many medicines, and I would take that any day over being shocked, because I wasn’t afraid. I was tired, but I wasn’t afraid.”

Advocates in the disability community are pleased to see support from Congress. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is one of the advocacy groups leading the charge against the use of electric shocks on people with disabilities., “For the autistic community this isn’t just a legal dispute about the FDA’s authority,” Executive Director Julia Bascom told The 19th.   “It’s a deeply personal argument about whether there is a right to torture some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”

Murphy said he doesn’t think of the electric shock devices as a disability issue, necessarily but as part of his work to ban and restrict the use of corporal punishment overall. “These [shock] devices are unique, but at their essence … [they’re] not dissimilar from other uses of corporal punishment,” he said.  In June,  Murphy reintroduced legislation that would bar teachers and other school staff from physically striking any student, for example. He also recently introduced legislation to divert federal funding away from maintaining school resource officers and toward in-school mental health services.

While the letter has no legal impact,  Murphy and his fellow signees wanted to make clear to the courts that the Senate and others are paying attention. “The FDA isn’t a political body. It’s a scientific body. But they still pay attention to priorities from Congress… And it’s important to many of us that we do our part to end these draconian practices,” he said.

Disability advocates like Bascom are glad for the letter, despite its lack of teeth. “We’re glad to see that there continues to be strong support for ending the torture of disabled people via electric shock,” she told The 19th “The disability community has been fighting to end this practice for decades, and we’re closer than ever.”

Editor’s note: This article was originally published by The 19th

Leave your vote

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

Browse and manage your votes from your Member Profile Page

What's Your Reaction?

  • AngryAngry
    0
    Angry
  • CuteCute
    0
    Cute
  • CryCry
    0
    Cry
  • LOLLOL
    0
    LOL
  • LoveLove
    0
    Love
  • OMGOMG
    0
    OMG

REPRINT REQUESTS | MEMBERSHIPS | GIVE



Share This Post

Share via

Share This Post

  • Digg
  • Tumblr
  • Flipboard
  • SMS
More
  • Report
ShareTweetPin It
FM Editors

FM Editors

Faithfully Magazine is a fresh, bold and exciting news and culture publication that covers issues, conversations and events impacting Christian communities of color.

Related Posts

John Gray, associate pastor at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, as seen in the OWN broadcast reality show The Book of John

Pastor John Gray to Return to the Pulpit After Surviving Near-Fatal Health Scare

Donald Trump

FBI Search of Trump Home Likely Vetted Carefully, Despite Claims of Witch Hunt

Jury Orders Alex Jones to Pay Sandy Hook Victims’ Parents $4.1M in Defamation Case

Preacher Robbed of Jewelry During Livestream Shows Off His Gucci-Louis-Fendi ‘Prayer Closet’

Upcoming Live Events

There are no upcoming Events at this time.

Get the Newsletter

Recently Published

  • UMC Pastor Charged With Child Rape Suspended With Pay
  • Possible Site of Biblical Peter’s Home Found Near Sea of Galilee, Archaeologist Say
  • Legal Action Promised If NY Church’s ‘ReAwaken America’ Event Sparks Racial Violence
  • News With Nicola: FBI Raid Trump’s Florida Home and Trumpvangelicals Lose It
  • Pastor John Gray to Return to the Pulpit After Surviving Near-Fatal Health Scare
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Newsletter

© 2022 Faithfully Media LLC, owner and operator. All rights reserved. This site participates in the Amazon Associates program, and other affiliate programs, and may earn a commission from your purchases.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Clippings
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Inspiration
  • Log In
    • Your Profile

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Share via

Share This Post

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • Email
  • WhatsApp
  • Copy Link
  • Tumblr
  • Digg
  • Flipboard
  • SMS

Add New Playlist

Log In

Sign In

Login with Facebook
Login with Twitter
Forgot password?

Don't have an account? Register

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Back to Login

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Accept

Add to Collection

  • Public collection title

  • Private collection title

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Send this to a friend