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FDA Bans Electroshock Therapy

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are finally banning the outdated and controversial electroshock therapy, for use on children with autism.  On Friday the FDA proposed the ban on the use of electrical-shock therapy to treat children at the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center in Boston. The facility treats school children diagnosed with autism, developmental delays and various psychiatric problems. Sputniknews.com reports: The shock therapy is commonly used on children who are prone to hurting themselves or others. It involves shocks sent through electrodes placed on the skin. The FDA says the method is unsafe. “Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of the individuals who are exposed to these devices,” said Dr. William Maisel, acting director of FDA’s Office of Device Evaluation. “These devices are dangerous and a risk to public health. We believe they should not be used.” Other states including New York have banned the practice citing risk to injury and lack of evidence supporting that it works. Proponents of the treatment argue that it’s effective in treating kids with developmental disabilities when all else fails. In a statement, the Rotenberg Educational Center said that there are “hundreds of peer-reviewed articles on the safe and effective use” of electric shocks, and that they are “only administered when other therapy options have been exhausted and [...]