The governor of Massachusetts is asking federal authorities to ban devices that deliver painful shocks to students with disabilities

FIVE AT SIX AND TODAY FIVE INVESTIGATIONS TO GOVERNOR MAURY HEALEY ASKING FOR AN END TO A CONTROVERSIAL THERAPY THAT USES PAINFUL ELECTRIC SHOCKS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THE JUDGE ROTENBERG CENTER IN CANTON IS THE ONLY PLACE IN THE COUNTRY THAT DOES THIS. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION PROPOSES BAN OF SHOCK-DELIVERING DEVICE. AND A LETTER WAS SENT TO THE FDA TODAY AND THE GOVERNOR’S TOP HEALTH OFFICIAL SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS THIS PROPOSED BAN. The JRC DID NOT REPLY TO A REQUEST FOR COMMENT, BUT STATED THAT SHOCKS SAVE THE LIVES OF SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE INTENTIONALLY DESTROYING THEMSELVES OR OTHERS. TODAY

Shocks were administered only at one center in the country, located in Canton

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is asking for an end to controversial therapy for disabled people that uses painful electric shocks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is proposing a ban on the shock delivery device, and in a letter on Monday, Healey’s top health official wrote that the administration supports the FDA’s proposed ban. The Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton is the only place in the country that uses these painful shocks in treatment. She repeatedly and successfully defended the practice in courts and state legislatures before the FDA, defeating the federal agency’s earlier attempt to ban shock devices through a court challenge. The FDA launched its current effort to ban the device after gaining greater power from Congress to regulate the device, addressing what the agency says is an issue that led to a successful court challenge. In a letter dated Monday, Kathleen Walsh, Healey’s secretary for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, wrote: “The Healey-Driscoll Administration supports the FDA’s proposed rule, which is appropriately tailored to the circumstances involved, namely discontinuing the use of (stimulation devices) electricity) for the purpose of (aggressive behavior) or (self-harming behavior).” Tuesday was the last day for public comment on the proposed ban. The JRC did not respond to a request for comment, but said shocks save the lives of some people who brutally injure themselves or others. An earlier statement said: “The safe and effective use of electrical stimulation devices (ESD) as part of our Applied Behavior Analysis treatment plan is a matter of life or death for a small number of our clients. Parents and guardians of clients at the Judge Rotenberg Education Center will remain vigilant to ensure this treatment is available to those for whom all other treatment options have been tried and failed.”

BOSTON –

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is asking for an end to controversial therapy for disabled people that uses painful electric shocks.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is proposing a ban on the shock delivery device, and in a letter dated Monday, Healey’s top health official wrote that the administration supports the FDA’s proposed ban.

The Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton is the only place in the country that uses painful shocks in treatment. She repeatedly and successfully defended the practice in courts and state legislatures before the FDA, defeating the federal agency’s earlier attempt to ban shock devices through a court challenge.

The FDA launched its current effort to ban the device after gaining greater authority from Congress to regulate the device, thereby resolving what the agency said was an issue that led to the successful court challenge.

In a letter dated Monday, Kathleen Walsh, Healey’s secretary for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, wrote: “The Healey-Driscoll Administration supports the FDA’s proposed rule, which is appropriately tailored to the circumstances to which it addresses, namely discontinuing the use of ( electrical stimulation devices) for (aggressive behavior) or (self-injurious behavior).”

Tuesday was the last day for public comment on the proposed ban.

The JRC did not respond to a request for comment, but said shocks save the lives of some people who brutally injure themselves or others. An earlier statement said: “The safe and effective use of electrical stimulation devices (ESD) as part of our Applied Behavior Analysis treatment plan is a matter of life or death for a small number of our clients. Parents and guardians of clients at the Judge Rotenberg Education Center will remain vigilant to ensure this treatment is available to individuals for whom all other treatment options have been tried and failed.”