Im just searching on the internet right now to figure out what to do about my daughters upcoming period. She has down syndrom and is the most amazing thing in my life. For all of you making the comments saying to just let them be human, let them decide if they want children and so on, don't you think as parents that we want that for them? We love our children and I know I wouldn't want to change her for anything but would I love to stop her period completely. HECK YA!!!!
People who don't deal with this 24 hours a day 7 days a week, keep your coments to yourself because you have no clue. You cant imagine our struggle and our victory. Our children are humans and they were given to each of us for a reason. We are talking about a period here and it would make everyones situation better; school, home, for themselves so like I said, if you don't live this life then we don't need the "I know what I would do coments."

Misty, Salem, OR

i have a daughter with cp and is totally dependent. she is now 36 years old. when she had her first period we had a hysterectomy. it was the best decision we made. my daughter is in diapers and we did not want to have to go thru the pads, etc. she did excellent recovering from the surgery. never had any problems. i was very upset when she came out of surgery but when i saw how fast she bounced back i was glad we made the decision. we have been taking care o\f our daughter for 36 years. i agree with the mom, walk in my shoes and spend a day at our home and i believe you will agree with me. my daughter would never be able to take care of going thru periods. i am support of the mother.

mrs.mickie foltz, masury, ohio

I have no children, but the question needs to be asked "is Katie mentally able to make this decision?" That is to say does she understand, that she would never be able to have children? If she cannot, is it not pointless to say "let Katie decide?"
That being said, I personally find the decision to have surgery performed unnecessarily is distasteful, and I am glad that questions are being asked by the medical associations.
But with respect, if you can read this & understand what all the uproar is all about & are disabled - you have no right to condemn Mrs Thorpe & neither do I.
YOU & I are not the one taking care of a person 24/7 dealing with a scared, emotional child, day in day out, worrying about longterm care if anything happened to you.
MY OPINION is that Katie should be assessed AFTER she has started her period, a medical decision be made then. AND IT IS JUST AN OPINION.
Hard choices are not easy to make & I wish the Thorpe family luck in making a choice that they can live with

C , Flemington, NJ

Just let her have her period, i don't want mine but I want kids and even if she is disablled.. WHO CARES!!! Let her make up her mind!! She is a human being and she has the right to do something on her own. Moms who make their daughter's decison are bad moms, that's why my mom ain't a bad mom. I make most of my life decisions!! I make them!!

Natalie Henry , Lynbrook, United States, New York

You go girl!!!!!!!! The bleeding hearts are IGNORANT.

John Grieser, Broken Bow, NE

I believe that Katie has a right to stay a complete person. If her mother wishes to save her the pain of monthly periods them she should seek alternatives. There are alternatives.

Back in the 1930's a friend of my mothers was given a hystorectomy because she was Deaf... She could still communicate, was a wonderful woman, who married in her early 30's then found out she could never hav children. She adopted 2 wonderful HEARING daughters and raised them to be fine people.

I don't think anyone has the right to make this decision for Katie. Lets see if we can control her cycles with Depo Provera and let her grown up. Her Future may be brighter than any of us are aware.

Patti, Edmonton, Alta, Canada

this is truely a sad position to be in, however if Katie is doubly inconinent and has little understanding of what is happening why put this child through having an unnecessary operation which may take her life anyway. I think the issue really is about dignity and having a monthly cycle is part of being a female and there is nothing undignified about the beauty of being a woman and celebrating our monthly periods no matter how disruptive they may be, it is a natural part of life. Surely soiling yourself with a bowel motion is more undignifed maybe you should do a bowel resection at the same time so that Katie does not have to open her bowels or give her a colostomy and urosotomy and that will also solve that problem.
I hope you will re think your decision - quality of life is what you make of it having a period or not will not make much differnce to katies life.

Pauline Costins, Perth, Australia

Mothers as practical and compassionate as Katie's should be praised, not criticised, for wanting to exploit what is a relatively safe and commonplace medical option that will spare her daughter the pain, mess and mood swings of menstruation.
I feel sorry for Ms Thorpe having to battle with this confederacy of holier-than-thou dunces (most of whom will have never endured a grinding period pain or the blessed relief of hysterectomy). Katie is in no position to enjoy the rewards of motherhood so why should she endure its associated biological unpleasantnesses? Common sense has been replaced these days by a shrill quasi liberalism that has nothing to do with protecting the vulnerable.

Leita, Durham,

I think that they should go through with the procedure. So far... there isn't a cure for cerebral palsy. Who is to say that there ever will be? Who is to say that this gril will get married and have children under these conditions. And if she does, then how is she supposed to take care of the children?

Sienna, Pittsburg, United States

What's so terrible about periods? As I understand it, Katie is doubly incontinent so anything needed to manage the practical side is being done already. There are many simpler ways to stop conception and a hysterectomy isn't going to give any protection against sexual abuse.

A hysterectomy is major surgery with major consequences, not just a little tidying up procedure. I am a carer myself. I think this story says far more about carers receiving insufficient support and some rather odd, old fashioned ideas about periods (“the curse” etc) and sexuality.

I shouldn’t think Katie will care one way or another about having periods, but I very much doubt she’ll enjoy having a hysterectomy or the consequences. I hope this gets more thought before getting the go ahead.

Annabel, Bristol, UK

How does this mother know the child cannot understand? If the child is not able to speak it doesn't mean she can't communicate in some manner and doesn't mean she doesn't understand. I work in the medical field with people who cannot speak but they are able to some degree communicate. It's all in the "listening" skills. I am thinking the mom is the one who doesn't want to deal with her daughter's menstruation! Not all women have painful female problems.

Lora, Michigan,

The law says that whilst Katie is under 18, a parent's consent is valid consent. But the medical professional must still decide whether a non-therapeutic intervention is ethically correct, even in a case where consent has been obtained. This compromise between parents' and professional judgment means that there is always a theoretical danger of a parent simply persuading a medic to do an operation on a child. Katie could be made a ward of court so that the question whether hysterectomy IS the least restrictive thing that could be done to manage the not-yet-existent problem could be determined by a neutral judge. No-one can say whether Katie's mother will always be the one who has to care for her, or even be able or willing to care for her. Others may be better able to deal with problems that menstruation can indeed cause, and may suggest that there are broader health benefits in not losing one's womb at this age. Britain is special in recognising that this is NOT just a private matter.

Belinda Schwehr, Guildford, England

It is only natural for her mother to want the best for ther daughter. I don't know the medical ins and outs of the options in this case, so I will reserve judgement there.

The point I'd like to raise is that if this girl is unaware of many things around her, and unable to give consent on an issue such as this then that would also affect her reproductive rights. Presumably she would also be unable to give consent to becoming pregnant. The right to consent or not in sexual matters surely pre-empts the right to have a baby. So to those disagreeing based on an an infringement of her right to reproduce, I think you need to look at the broader perspective.

To those saying this is an unnecessarily invasive and irreversible procedure, you may have a strong case to make.

Wil, Nottingham,

Whilst geberally agreeing with the majority of arguement about this case has anyone stopped to look at the bigger picture ? Surgery on a child so young and with learning diffs could be far more dangerous ! What dignity is she saving her daughter from ? From being a human and letting Nature take its course ? We already know from her own mother that she is unaware of many things so why should she be aware of her periods ? How does anyone know that she will be in Discomfort ? I know many ladies that have little or no pain during thier cycle. As for her dignity she has to be changed several times a day as she is doubly incontinent. It could also be said that she has no use of her Arms and Legs so why not remove them as well ? That way she would be far more managable ... Let the girl start he periods and then if there are signs of distress then look at alternatives .... The Pill, Injection etc these all stop periods also so why not these roots ? Also I am a nurse so am aware of the facts ..

Warren, Bridgend, South Wales

I am so glad that I do not have to make a decision on this matter. I hold no opinion, either way, and I wish to continue in that position on this unbearable ethical dilemma.

This is a matter for the parents, the doctors, the child (if possible) and the lawyers representing the child's interests ONLY and it should, as proposed, be settled by a court. (I pity the judge!)

I view as quite deplorable the publicised views of the fundamentalist campaigners on both sides

Brian Vallance, LEFKIMMI, Greece

My daugher has cerebral palsy and as a parent I fully back what this women is requesting for her daughter. This is out love for her child. If her child has learning difficulties and does get pregnant what about the baby ... it is going to be brought up in this world by a mother who has learning difficulties (not normal - sorry)...... It would be the grandmother who would end up bringing up the child and having spent 15 years with a child with cerebral palsy I think she has done her bit, and at this stage she would now have another 15/18 years to go, getting more elderly all the time. However, I have watched tv programmes before with people who have had children with CP and brought up children quite successfully. I think if the person is cognitively OK then have lots of children but if intellectually impaired you need to ask the question is this really fair on the unborn child, or the grandparents.

Morag, Glasgow, UK

I think that in this case the mother truely knows best, considering she has spent 15 years with the child, how can some charity believe they know what's best?
The procedure and the recovery period will be compensated by the more comfortable, easier lifestyle the child will, without a doubt, have as a result of this.
Surely, what we want is to improve her quality of life as much as possible, and this is the way to do it.

Rhiannon , Neath, Wales

As a former child I must say that mothers do not always know best. Here, the mother who must care for her child clearly has an interest in making that care easier, even if the solution is not in the best interest of the child. To avoid this conflict of interest, a guardian must be appointed for Katie to investigate the situation and consider alternate solutions, to ensure that this irreversible, invasive procedure is truly in Katie's best interest.

Mike, San Jose, CA

I am a woman with CP. Many of the women with disabilities I have known in my life have CP, ranging from mild to severe forms. In view of this, I feel I *am* qualified to comment, despite what the parents of this girl, and of Ashley X, would like to think. Many of the activists fighting against this invasion of bodily integrity are women with disabilities, and/or people with CP. We live with the realities of disability every single day of our lives. There are other options. Many families have been there before, and have not resorted to such drastic measures. They have found ways of coping. And if they are not coping, they need to be given support. Funding for assistance, for workshops on menstruation management for caregivers, noninvasive medical alternatives. Women with disabilities, including those women with severe forms of disabilities have the right to whole bodies, that are not carved into for no medical reason other than to make life easier for others.

R L, Perth, Australia

when these people make comments about in who's interest this decision is being made they are questioning the morality of the parents maybe someone shoud question theirs who's interests are they clearly considering first. Simone Aspis maybe able to say yes to sex and parenthood this unfortunate child cannot and her caring loving parents are trying do do what is her best interests not S Aspis's. Nor the best interests of grandchildren who don't excist. What human rights gives these so called charities the right to abuse there power, did this child hand over her rights to them. They are not responsible for her, they don't care for her.They are using this child to further their own agenda. Her right is to have responsible caring loving family who really do have her best interest at heart and not some third party agenda

S Scott, berwick, northumberland

There are many other ways of stopping periods without giving someone a hysterectomy. Chemical treatments, via injections every few months or the pill should be used. Yes the mother may have a claim now that the child will never improve, but anything could change in the future and such permanent options should not be taken for anything but medical necessity.

Belinda, Melbourne, Australia

Katie's mother - who must know Katie better than anyone else - seems to have considered the pros and cons of all the options and is supported by Katie's doctors. The 'human rights' argument can be taken both ways - Katie has the right to as good a quality of life as possible, without the pain and discomfort of having periods. What use is the ability to have a baby to her? If she did become pregnant (which as Joe Kellie says would result from rape as she could not consent) how could she cope with side effects like morning sickness, and backache, and going into labour? Think what a nightmare that would be for Katie.

This is a one-off case, for a child who has severe physical and mental disabilities, not just the physical problems which accompany cerebral palsy. I admire Katie's mother for speaking about her decision. This isn't a decision that she has come to for her own convenience.

Some of the disability rights campaigners who have spoken against this may not know all the facts.

Jan, Leeds, UK

Would you busy-bodies please quit meddling in the tragic affairs of others. Snip it out and get on with life. I don't think anyone is planning on her having children, so it doesn't really matter if it's irreversible, now does it?

The "human rights" argument doesn't hold a single drop of water. So called "human rights" do not trump Parental Rights in a case with such particulars as this one.

I'd say the issue is incredlbly black and white. Based upon the facts, there's simply not a lot to argue over.

Scott, Durham, NC, USA

This is riduculous. It never should have ended up in the realm of public opinion. This girl does not need to reproduce. She does not understand what is going on. She needs to have a hysterectomy. It is between the girl's mother and the doctors. Who leaked this? It is private and personal. Thank goodness the US has HIPAA, which would have protected the girl and her mother from this type of publicity. Let her have the surgery.

Pat, Florida, USA

Nobody can be SURE of what the future holds... what if it turns out that Katie does understand (this has happened to so many disabled people who were assumed to be write-offs)? What if her floppiness or lack of communication is due to her medication, and better medication is developed in the near future which does not have this side effect (again, this has happened so many times before)? What if she is sexually abused, and nobody realises because she can't become pregnant?
Katie needs help for all her toileting needs: I really don't think she could give two hoots if this also involved a bit of blood every now and then. And above all - she hasn't even started menstruating yet! Would you have a hysterectomy just because you *might* have period pains?? :S

Elizabeth Guasp, Loughborough, UK

No-body could possibly want better for Katie than her own mother, her primary carer, which makes her the optimum choice to act as Katie's advocat. Opposing disability charities are guilty of discrimination by regaurding Katie as a 'disabled person', instead of an individual, with individual care needs.

Rachel, Merseyside,

So this young woman will have unnecessary surgery to prevent menstruation? Surgery that will cause her to go through a very early menopause. And, then I suppose she will have to have HRT?

It sounds almost as fair as aborting babies with a disability up to and including 40 weeks gestation.

How can people with disabilities possibly have equality when negative eugenics is so acceptable?

Sue, Bristol, UK

All I can say, to use an old cliche is "walk a mile in that mother's shoes." So what if the mother wants her life and the childs to be easier? The people who are sounding off...do they have a disabled child at home? Can they even begin to imagine what that family has given up (their entire lives!) in order to give their child as comfortable a life as they can? What gives anyone the right to judge? People get a life....

Maria, Charlotte, USA North Carolina

It is impossible to know how much a person understands unless they have a reliable way of communicating. Whether Katie has reliable communication has not been made clear. If she doesn't then this should be the first goal so that she can have input into such far reaching decisions about her life. Throughout history assumptions have been made about low levels of intelligence and understanding amongst the community of people who have disabilities. Often these have been found to be wrong.
Marion, Halifax, UK, www.contactcandle.co.uk

Marion Stanton, Halifax, UK

I believe that organisations as Scope have not only every right but are obliged to ask all involved persons to look very carefully and think a hundred times before removing a disabled child´s or youth´s secondary sexual organs. I also think that a parent who fulfills the over-human duty of everyday caretaking of a disabled child can not judge the situation 100 per cent objective and therefore a independent udging instance is very much needed here.

Luise Krahmer, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

I believe that the mother of this child knows best. To leave this decision to strangers, beggars belief. Will those who are most vociferous be there to prepare this girl for the onset of puberty-No. Will those same people be there to support her mother and physically clean up the detrius-No. This girl could not be expected to raise a child as she would be an unfit parent.Please get real ,and wake up and smell the coffee.

Bev. Ibrahim-Njie, London,

I agree that Katie's mother is right to have this operation performed as it is very clear that Katie will never become a mother. Whey should she have to suffer any more than she is already with menstruation, she will not understand what it is. My daughters (one of whom is a mother) suffer with debilitating pain every month which often results in them not being able to keep down food or drink and staying in bed for at least 2 days, if Katie were to experience this it would just be horrific.

Margaret Jones, London, UK

I agree that this case is not black and white. As I work with adults with cerebral palsy on a daily basis, I do see that dealing with menstruation may not always be dignified, but it is a natural part of being a woman.

I believe that having a neutral advocate speaking out for the rights of Katie would be beneficial; her mother's immense love for her means that she is unable to make an unbiased decision.

The state and disabled charities should have every right to make comments and influence controversial cases like this one.

A few years ago in Britain, there was a teenage girl who had a breast augmentationfor her 16th birthday. People were quick to comment on and criticize that case, so why not this one? We should not feel that just because a person is physically or mentally disabled, we cannot critique the situation.

Louise Parker, Boston, MA, USA

I believe the mother is acting in the best interest of her child and I am sure this was deliberated with the doctors helping this child the best they can. Now suddenly the "Disabled charities" has got an egg to lay, speaking from the side, they don't have any facts on the specific case and they weren't involved at any level. Disable charities sound like they try to leech a bit of limelight from this case and try to justify their existence by generalised opinion about this case. PS: The media is slowly changing the term News to Gossip, look at the McCann case.

Andy, Liverpool, UK

Also, it's stupid to say that Ashley X is any safer from sexual abuse. Ever heard of pedophiles?
In fact, sexual abusers prefer the weak. Many sexual abusers honestly don't care if it's a child or a disabled woman they're abusing - they're both vulnerable.

Ettina, Saskatoon, Canada

There is another way to accomplish this -- have an endometrial ablation done on Katie. This removes the lining of the uterus which sheds during menstruation. It is an out-patient procedure done vaginally -- much less invasive. I hope Katie's mother checks this out.

Susan Mahoney, Houston, USA/Texas

Sarah Kate Templeton should be aware that 'the disabled' are people (first and foremost). with disabilities and should not be labelled or referred to as 'the disabled'.

INDIGNANT, MANCHESTER, ENGLAND

I have just heard the mother of this poor child speaking on the BBC and agree entirely with her. In a case like this, I think that all these 'nanny state' interferers should mind their own damn business.
This decision rightfully belongs to the parents alone.
Regards,
Clive Burghard.

Clive Burghard, LANCING, ENGLAND

In this day and age surely it has become apparent that there is no one ultimate truth and no possible way of making absolute rules on how we live; the multitude of spiritual and religious beliefs and practices all over the world indicate this.
The best we can do is create the most humane and peaceful ways of living, to do no harm to ourselves or others and be as kind and empowering to each other as we can.
And so in addressing this issue I ask what is the kindest and most humane thing to do, an answer that surely can only come from the mother who knows the reality of day to day life for Katie and who wants the best for her daughter. For anyone else to make judgement seems absurd unless they too have had the same experience.
Katie may never be able to make a choice about having a child or anything else in her life, indeed her mother has played this role all her life so surely her mother is the best person to make such a decision, afterall who else really has the right to judge?

Antonia, sotogrande, spain

I 100% agree with Allison thorpe i would want my daughter to have the best life anyone could give her and if that means giving her a hysterectomy to make life more settled for her then they should do it , most woman suffer enough with their monthly cycle without having a disabillity aswell i wish her all the best with a full recovery and a happy life

georgina griffin, bideford n devon, uk

G, Christchurch -

The only thing disgusting here is your pathetic Daily Mail inspried response to such a sensitive issue.

To say that a mother trying to do what is best for her severely ill child is 'disgusting' is frankly ignorant and sensationalist in the extreme.

I fully support the mother in this case and would urge all of your kind to climb down from your supposed moral high ground.

You do not know their struggle and neither do I. So whose judgement is best in this case? Yours? I think not.

Tom Jeanes, London,

Is about time all those who criticise other peoples judgements and ways of life mind their own buisnesses and let others get on with theirs.
It's no wonder this planet is in such a mess,ask yourselves 'who are you to judge others'...

M J Bantges, Lincoln, uk

The parents care for their child and are doing what they see as the best. While a careful and thorough investigation should be carried out we should remember that sex without consent is rape and this girl cannot give consent because she does not understand. This means she will have all the discomfort and negatives without technically being able to have a child without being raped first.

Joe Kellie, Edinburgh, Scotland

As a father of a 4 year old daughter with numerous disabilities, I wholeheartedly support any other fellow parent of a child with disabilities, who seeks to act in the best interests of their child's quality of life.

Condemnation from people who, as Alison Thorpe quite rightly says "should come and spend a week with me, walking in my shoes" is ill judged and ignorant.

Paul, Herts, England

Katie, and others are being used as a 'guinpig'. They are only doing because they thing they have some sort of right to. Regardless of the disability we do not know what peoples understanding really is and therefore should not be able to take any of life experiences away from her. You need ask yourself, who will really benifit from this operation 'parants, suport workers because it want be Katie or people with disabiliites at large. "Her life expectancy is poor" my parents were also this some 52 years ago. I am now married with our own home and a business that I have had for twenty years, no body know how long are life will be. I think this is a good case of thinking of oneself and useing Katie's name to do so!

Trevor Harrison, Welland, Australia,

The parents should investigate "Endometrial Ablation" aka cauterization of the uterine lining- less invasive, less recovery time, no organ removal.

RAP, phoenix, AZ, USA

this is disgusting, i am embarrassed to be british if this is indicative of how far we have progressed. i can only think in expletives

G, Christchurch, uk

The author says about Ashley X, "her parents wanted to stop her from growing up."

Please take a look at his article -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Treatment

From this it seems that the actual goal of Ashley X's parent's was not to stop her growing up, but, "to enable them to personally continue constant care for her; to reduce the risk of bedsores; to avoid the discomfort that may be associated with menstruation; to prevent pregnancy; to avoid the discomfort of large breasts, which run in Ashley's family; to prevent breast cancer; to prevent appendicitis which occurs in 5% of the population and which would be difficult to diagnose in Ashley as she would be unable to communicate the symptoms. They also believe that without developing secondary sexual characteristics, Ashley will be less vulnerable to sexual abuse"

Matt, Bangkok, Thailand