#StopTheShock @ The Judge Rotenberg Center

#StopTheShock

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Chelsea Filer
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#StopTheShock: A Campaign Exposing the Dangers of Aversive Shock Conditioning and Supporting Legislative Action

Introduction:

#StopTheShock is a crucial campaign aimed at raising public awareness about the detrimental consequences of aversive conditioning utilizing electric shock devices at the Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC) in Canton, Massachusetts. This unscientific practice involves administering electric skin shocks to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, devoid of any basis in legitimate medical science. With a troubling 34-year history, the JRC has faced legal and ethical concerns, receivership by the MA Department of Mental Health, investigation by the Attorney General, and has provoked outrage among disability rights advocates. In this newsletter, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the JRC and delve into the controversial realm of electro skin shock therapy.

A Violation of Human Rights:

The use of aversive conditioning through electric shocks is a violation of human rights. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture has denounced the use of electric shocks, categorizing it as a form of torture rather than a legitimate treatment. The JRC in Massachusetts is the only facility in the United States and Europe that is still allowed to use this device, subjecting its residents to traumatic experiences that leave long-lasting physical and psychological scars.

Further, and more alarmingly, there is no peer-reviewed evidence to suggest that electro-skin shock therapy is effective to reduce self-injurious behavior. This is what the JRC states it is currently used for. But for a treatment to be effective, it must meet the basic medical standard of care: to wit, care that a reasonably skilled and competent medical provider with a similar level of education within the same area would have provided to a patient under the same treatment circumstances. This device does not. The mere fact that Massachusetts is the only state in the the United States and Europe that allows the use of this device speaks volumes as to its level of dangerousness and abuse. 

  • The Graduated Electronic Decelerator (GED) is designed to be six times stronger than a police taser.
  • Shock therapy has been found to reinforce self-injurious behaviors (SIB), according to studies by Ristic (2005).
  • Shock therapy lacks an effective method for withdrawal, and it is highly likely that residents are unable to connect their behavior to the shocks, leading to unwanted social side effects.

Lack of Evidence and Alternative Approaches:

Medical experts have repeatedly emphasized the lack of scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of electric shocks. Positive reinforcement and teaching appropriate skills have been shown to be far more effective in managing challenging behaviors exhibited by individuals with disabilities such as autism. The medical consensus now recognizes the importance of employing humane and evidence-based methods that prioritize the well-being and dignity of individuals.

  • There is no scientific literature supporting the use of electric shocks.
  • Limited replication studies have been conducted across multiple sites, which is a measure of scientific validity.
  • No methodologically rigorous studies supporting electric shocks have been published after the year 2000.
  • Shock therapy is not commonly accepted or considered a socially valid practice in any country.
  • Alternative approaches, such as Function Based Interventions, including “Sensory Diets”, offer more adaptive strategies for addressing sensory-related behaviors.

Judge Rotenberg Center:

The JRC is the only facility in the United States that continues to use these devices, subjecting its residents to painful and distressing experiences that leave long-lasting physical and psychological scars. 

  • The Graduated Electronic Decelerator (GED) was created by the JRC’s founder, Matthew Israel who owns the patent to this device. It was designed and patented to provide much stronger shocks to patients than the previous Electric Shock Devices readily available on the market(ESD), in order to control unwanted behavior.
  • In 2020 alone, JRC received $84,108,326 in grants and other government funding
  • That same year, the FDA attempted to ban Electric Shock Devices at large, stating the agency “has determined that these devices present an unreasonable and substantial risk of illness or injury”

Historical Incidents and Civil Lawsuits:

Over the years, the JRC has faced numerous allegations of mistreatment and abuse. Reports have surfaced of residents being shocked for reasons unrelated to self-injurious or aggressive behavior, including minor infractions or appearance-related issues. These shocking incidents have led to civil lawsuits, exposing the harmful practices and lack of accountability within the facility.

  • There have been six deaths reported at the Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC) as a result of the shock therapy.
  • Multiple lawsuits have been filed in connection with the use of shock therapy.
  • In 2007, the founder of JRC, Matthew Israel, was forced to step down due to criminal charges related to shocking two residents over 100 times.

FDA Ban on Electric Skin Shock Devices:

In a groundbreaking move, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of electric shocks devices for treating self-injury or aggressive behavior in March 2020. This ban, which marked only the third time in history that the FDA has prohibited a medical device, signifies the grave risks and ethical concerns associated with electric shocks. After the FDA’s proposed ban was reversed on a technicality related to the FDA’s regulatory authority ,Congress clarified the FDA’s authority to issue such a ban. Advocates are currently appealing to the FDA to reinstate the ban on electric shock devices.

Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) Multi-Org Letter to the FDA

Massachusetts is Taking Action:

H.180, titled “An Act Regarding the Use of Aversive Therapy,” is a legislative measure in Massachusetts that protects the human rights of those with disabilities  It prohibits aversive shock therapy, physical abuse, and the withholding of food, water or bedding to any disabled person in a hospital or long term care facility.. H. 180 clearly states that a disability does not make a patient “fair game” for abuse in the medical system. These protections extend to the over 48,000 in long term care facilities, over 44% of whom have suffered some form of physical abuse. 

Join the #StopTheShock Campaign:

We need your help!  Join #StopTheShock campaign to take action and raise awareness against the use of skin shock therapy at JRC, and for the human rights of all disabled patients in Massachusetts. Together, we can make a difference. Here’s how to get involved:

  • Contact Legislators: Use the Action Network to contact the legislators of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities in Massachusetts, urging them to support bill H.180.
  • Attend The Corrections Art Show: Opening Reception: May 20, 2023, 4 – 7 pm
    • The Foundry: Point Gallery, 2nd floor 101 Rogers St, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
    • View Press Release
  • Attend the Protest: Join us on May 22, 2023, at 12pm EST on the Boston Common across from the State House for a peaceful protest. Together, we can send a powerful message. Sign Up Here
  • Financial Support: Donate to the #StopTheShock campaign. We can’t do this without your help!  GoFundMe
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