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Judge Rules Cattle Prod Must Go; Parents Object
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
March 14, 2007

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS--Last May, following efforts by the Illinois Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities, The Arc of Illinois, and other disability rights groups, Illinois legislators passed a law banning the use of humiliation, pain and other aversive means to change the behavior of people with developmental disabilities.

And last week, a judge used that law to rule that a cattle prod can no longer be used to deliver electric shocks to Bradley Bernstein, a 48-year-old man who has autism.

The judge's decision was seen as a victory for Trinity Services Inc., the agency that runs the group home where Mr. Bernstein lives. Trinity officials stopped using the cattle prod last fall, saying the new law prohibits it.

They added that many employees simply refused to use the device, which they described as delivering jolt that feels much like sticking your finger into a light socket.

"This is something that our professional staff doesn't believe is ethical," Trinity's president, Art Dykstra, told the Chicago Tribune.

But Bernstein's parents said they are unhappy with the ruling, and are considering an appeal. They said the electric shocks keep their son from hitting himself in the head. They had sued Trinity in order to get his former behavior plan, which was approved by a judge in 1987, to be reinstated.

They described the zap from the cattle prod as being like a bee sting.

Trinity officials explained that Bernstein no longer needs to be shocked, that he and staff at his home are learning other ways to keep him from hurting himself.

His parents argue that he is starting to have more outbursts -- during home visits -- and that the law doesn't apply to their son.

Related:
"Shock therapy called cruel; kin disagree" (Chicago Tribune)

http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/07/red/0314a.htm
"Parents want to continue shock treatment on autistic son" (Chicago Tribune)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/07/red/0314b.htm

Copyright © 2007 Inonit Publishing
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