Electric shock for experimental behavioral response has legally been used on persons with autism and other disabilities – until now. The federal government also allowed the use of cattle prods and more complex devices of torture to temporarily modify aberrant behavior, causing severe pain to people with disabilities. This medieval approach has gone on far too long.
Many individual states had the wisdom to outlaw the use of aversive electric shock on persons with autism and intellectual disabilities. Other states did not. The federal government remained silent – until now.
After decades of people trying to educate public officials, FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb in his newsletter stated, “We’re planning to issue a final ban on electrical stimulation devices used for self-injurious and aggressive behaviors. We believe these products present an unreasonable and substantial risk to public health that cannot be corrected or eliminated through changes to the labeling.”
We support thousands of individuals with significant disabilities. We use positive approaches regardless of any behavior. It has worked since I founded this organization 30 years ago and hopefully, with the help of the federal government it will become policy for every organization to follow.
Robert Stack