Key Takeaways

Earlier this month, a federal appeals courtruledto overturn the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ban on the use of electric shock devices on people with disabilities at a Massachusetts residential school.

The Judge Rotenberg Education Center (JRC), a residential school located in Canton, Massachusetts, has served adults and children with conduct, behavioral, emotional, and or psychiatric issues. Despite the center’s mission, they have been labeled as one of the most controversial institutions for people with disabilities due to their use of electric shock devices.

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“For example, if somebody bangs their head out of frustration, they would be shocked in an effort to get them to stop that behavior,” Gardiner says. He adds that it is a form of operant conditioning, a type of learning process that uses reinforcement or punishment to strengthen behavior.

The Controversy Behind Electric Shock

According to theHuman Rights Council of the United Nations, electric shock is a form of torture.

In 2013, Juan E. Mendez, special rapporteur on torture at the United Nations, issued a report where he condemned electric shock and issued a case of mistreatment of children and adults at Judge Rotenberg Education Center.

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Despite public outcry and scrutiny from activists, and federal and state authorities,the JRC continuesto use electric shock on patients.

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Electric Shock Can Lead to Serious Health Impacts

“Electric shock is not an effective behavior modification tool,” Decker says. Instead, research shows that the devices can lead to numerous psychological and physical risks, including:

Electric shock devices can also worsen suicide risks, chronic stress, acute stress disorder, neuropathy, nightmares, sleep disruption, concentration difficulties, and lead to flashbacks of pain and rage.

When a shock is stressful enough, it can cause trauma and suffering, especially when the patient does not have control over the shock or develops a fear of future shocks.

“People who experienced this [electric shock] are traumatized,“Monika Mitra, PhD, associate professor of disability policy at Brandeis University, tells Verywell. “They experience anxiety, depression, and physical and emotional adverse outcomes.”

Alternatives to Electric Shock

Electric shock fails to recognize the root causes of behavior, according to Gardiner. Instead, Gardiner suggests treatments that focus on the underlying reasons instead.

“[Treatment should try] to understand the underlying reasons why someone is banging their head,” Gardiner explains. “People often bang their heads or do other self-injurious things because they’re under severe stress, they’re overloaded, there’s too much for them to process, there’s too much noise, or they’re frustrated.”

He adds that figuring out the root cause of behavior without having to use electric shock can prevent distress, trauma, and PTSD among individuals.

To fight back against the use of electric shock, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network launched #StoptheShock to raise awareness of JRC’s usage of electric shock devices on its patients, many of whom are people of color.

What This Means For You

A Dangerous Precedent

“We’re very concerned that this now gives a green light to this technique,” Decker says. “We are very fearful that they’ll just expand the utilization of it.”

Because courts rely on previous cases for guidance, Gardiner fears that the appeals court’s ruling will set a precedent for other states to follow suit.

For over 15 years, Gardiner has witnessed disability activists fight against the JRC’s usage of electric shock. Now, it looks like they’ll have to renew their efforts.

“They [electric shock devices] don’t address the core reasons why people behave the way they do," Gardiner says. “All they do is just get they torture people for others convenience that is morally reprehensible. The JRC needs to stop using these electric shocks. They should be banned. They should be absolutely prohibited.”

5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.United Nations.Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.Food and Drug Administration.FDA Takes Rare Step to Ban Electrical Stimulation Devices for Self-Injurious or Aggressive Behavior.Fadhilah I, Amin MM.Schizoaffective Disorder That Is Induced By Electrical Voltage That Is Treated with Risperidone.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019;7(16):2667-2670. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.399Federal Register.Banned Devices; Electrical Stimulation Devices for Self-Injurious or Aggressive Behavior.Autistic Self Advocacy Network.#StoptheShock.

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.United Nations.Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.Food and Drug Administration.FDA Takes Rare Step to Ban Electrical Stimulation Devices for Self-Injurious or Aggressive Behavior.Fadhilah I, Amin MM.Schizoaffective Disorder That Is Induced By Electrical Voltage That Is Treated with Risperidone.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019;7(16):2667-2670. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.399Federal Register.Banned Devices; Electrical Stimulation Devices for Self-Injurious or Aggressive Behavior.Autistic Self Advocacy Network.#StoptheShock.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

United Nations.Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.Food and Drug Administration.FDA Takes Rare Step to Ban Electrical Stimulation Devices for Self-Injurious or Aggressive Behavior.Fadhilah I, Amin MM.Schizoaffective Disorder That Is Induced By Electrical Voltage That Is Treated with Risperidone.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019;7(16):2667-2670. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.399Federal Register.Banned Devices; Electrical Stimulation Devices for Self-Injurious or Aggressive Behavior.Autistic Self Advocacy Network.#StoptheShock.

United Nations.Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Food and Drug Administration.FDA Takes Rare Step to Ban Electrical Stimulation Devices for Self-Injurious or Aggressive Behavior.

Fadhilah I, Amin MM.Schizoaffective Disorder That Is Induced By Electrical Voltage That Is Treated with Risperidone.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019;7(16):2667-2670. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.399

Federal Register.Banned Devices; Electrical Stimulation Devices for Self-Injurious or Aggressive Behavior.

Autistic Self Advocacy Network.#StoptheShock.

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