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Protesters push to end shocks After 2 years of inaction at fed level, advocates speak out against Judge Rotenberg Center

Canton Journal - 6/22/2018

Protesters are trying to end the use of painful electric shocks at a Canton school for people with disabilities after more than two years of inaction on the federal level.

The protesters spent a recent afternoon outside the Judge Rotenberg Center, calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to act on its 2016 proposal to ban the electric shock devices used on students with disabilities.

"Absolutely this is torture. The United Nations special rapporteur on torture has said it is torture," said protester Olivia Richard, referring to a 2010 finding by a U.N. official calling the shocks to be torture.

"I'm out here because there's already plenty of research as to other methods," said another protester, Harriotte Ranvig. "I'm a parent and a grandparent. I've worked with autistic kids and other methodologies that actually work."

The world saw the electric shocks in action when video of then-18-year-old Andre McCollins receiving dozens of them in 2002 came to light during a trial. The first came after he refused to take off his jacket.

McCollins was put in a four-point restraint for hours while he was intermittently shocked.

In 2016, the FDA said JRC was using shocks on about 50 students. Dr. William Maisel, then the acting director of the FDA'sOffice of Device Evaluation, said in a 2016 press release: "These devices are dangerous and a risk to public health--and we believe they should not be used."

An FDA spokesperson said in a statement: "The FDA continues its work on this important issue, including reviewing the comments submitted to the docket on our proposed ban. We appreciate feedback from the public and patient groups and take their concerns seriously."

The Massachusetts protest comes the day after protesters gathered outside the Indianapolis home of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar.

Police arrested 26 people after the protesters allegedly ignored warnings to leave the property. The protesters are targeting Azar because he oversees the FDA.

A group of parents with children at the Judge Rotenberg Center stand by the treatment, saying it's used only as a last resort.

"Our children are part of a very small population of people suffering with life-threatening self-abusive and aggressive behaviors, they do not respond to drugs or any of the other typical treatments and need to have aversive interventions available to stop them from maiming and killing themselves," said Marie Washington, president of JRC Parents and Friends Association. "The decision to use aversives is a very difficult one that each of us makes for our individual child after all other options have failed."

The state also is trying to stop this shock therapy. The state took the school to court more than two years ago to clear the way to ban the use of the shock therapy, but a probate court judge has yet to issue a decision.

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