A Massachusetts school that uses electric shock therapy on special needs students has won its court case against the Massachusetts Governor’s Office and will be allowed to continue administering electric shock therapy. The original lawsuit was brought up in 2013.The Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton, Massachusetts is one of two schools in the country that uses the technique that is supposed to treat children who are “mentally disturbed” and try to hurt themselves. This act has been disavowed by the ACLU and many disability rights groups.According to a report by The Independent, the judge ruled that “the state failed to demonstrate that the procedure ‘does not conform to the accepted standard of care for treating individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.’”According to reports, in August of last year, 58 students at JRC were approved to receive electric shocks by their parents if necessary.The JRC Parents Group issued a statement in favor of the court’s decision. In part of the statement, the group says, “there was comfort in hearing the court and all these experts say what we already know from seeing the way this treatment improved our children’s quality of life. No one loves our children more than we do; we have tried and continue to try everything available to them.”The decision can still go through an appeal process if Massachusetts Health & Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders decides to do so. “Obviously it’s controversial, but there is a use of aversives in the commonwealth under probate court and I obviously need to review all the findings and determine whether we accept the judgment or, in fact, whether we appeal,” Sudders told reporters.According to the school website, the school admits people with special needs from age 5 to adult. The school says that they avoid psychotropic medications whenever possible and also does not expel or reject students based on different levels of behavioral problems.
