The Unnatural Peter Singer Summary
The controversial Ashley treatment to stop the growth of disabled children raised a lot of questions back in 2012. A good number of patients already implemented the treatment before it became public. Following this, Peter Singer wrote an article to criticize the legitimacy of the treatment. His essay, “The 'unnatural' Ashley treatment can be right for profoundly disabled children,” was meant to criticize the integrity of the treatment. His particular concern was the feelings of the children towards the treatment. Children subjected to this treatment are not able to make independent decisions as the society regards their thoughts and opinions as immature. As such, their caregivers would make such important decisions on their behalf. Thus, Singer
attempts to question the vehement decisions by the parents to undergo such treatments.
The author has organized his arguments concisely for the reader fully grasp the information he attempts to relay. He commences by elaborating the type of treatment and what it entails. In doing so, he ensures that the reader can make an appropriate judgment concerning the treatment. He further elaborates how the treatment was conducted and the subsequent repercussions. In his argument, Singer also includes the parents’ feelings after the procedure and how much they have benefited. Later, he gives the society’s notion of the treatment. He argues that the treatment is unethical as it denies the children the right to independent thinking. He convinces the reader of the unscrupulous acts of the procedure. Also, he claims that the treatment is mainly centralized on the parents’ feelings disregarding that of the kids.
The author employs the use of rhetorical questions to convince the readers against the fabricated notion as perceived by the physicians and the parents of the disabled. He, however, leaves it upon the reader to make an informed decision on their own. He has responded to other arguments promptly to prove his decisiveness on the matter.
Singer does not make any assumptions regarding this treatment as he has followed up on one particular incident from the time it commenced. He followed up on the proceedings from the time Ashley was subjected to the treatment, documenting all the result of the procedure. At the time he wrote the article, Ashley was 14 years yet his body corresponded to that of a 9-year-old (). The parents were however convinced that it was the best decision they made for their daughter (). He claims that the whole process deprives disabled children of the essential dignity as they are considered property rather than human beings.
attempts to question the vehement decisions by the parents to undergo such treatments.
The author has organized his arguments concisely for the reader fully grasp the information he attempts to relay. He commences by elaborating the type of treatment and what it entails. In doing so, he ensures that the reader can make an appropriate judgment concerning the treatment. He further elaborates how the treatment was conducted and the subsequent repercussions. In his argument, Singer also includes the parents’ feelings after the procedure and how much they have benefited. Later, he gives the society’s notion of the treatment. He argues that the treatment is unethical as it denies the children the right to independent thinking. He convinces the reader of the unscrupulous acts of the procedure. Also, he claims that the treatment is mainly centralized on the parents’ feelings disregarding that of the kids.
The author employs the use of rhetorical questions to convince the readers against the fabricated notion as perceived by the physicians and the parents of the disabled. He, however, leaves it upon the reader to make an informed decision on their own. He has responded to other arguments promptly to prove his decisiveness on the matter.
Singer does not make any assumptions regarding this treatment as he has followed up on one particular incident from the time it commenced. He followed up on the proceedings from the time Ashley was subjected to the treatment, documenting all the result of the procedure. At the time he wrote the article, Ashley was 14 years yet his body corresponded to that of a 9-year-old (). The parents were however convinced that it was the best decision they made for their daughter (). He claims that the whole process deprives disabled children of the essential dignity as they are considered property rather than human beings.