An educational facility in Massachusetts has won a court battle allowing it to use electrical devices on its students. As reported by <a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/dc-circuit-overturns-fda-ban-shock-device-disabled-students-2021-07-06/">Reuters</a>, the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center has successfully overturned the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) ban that had prevented them from using electric shock devices to correct aggressive or self-harming behavior in students. According to the <a href="https://www.judgerc.org/">school's official website</a>, the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center is a "day and residential school" catering to "both emotionally disturbed students with conduct, behavior, emotional, and/or psychiatric problems, as well as those with intellectual disabilities or on the autism spectrum." The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit voted 2-1 on Tuesday in favor of the controversial discipline practice, with <a href="https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/jznvnynkwpl/Rotenberg%20opinion.pdf">the ruling stating</a>: "The FDA has no authority to choose what medical devices a practitioner should prescribe or administer or for which conditions." More on the devices in the report below: [[youtubewidget||https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUhPMNdnOW8]] Per the <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/07/07/metro/court-decision-allows-canton-school-continue-using-electric-shocks-residents-with-intellectual-disabilities/">Boston Globe</a>, attorney Michael Flammia, who had represented the school, said that staff are pleased with the ruling. When other alternatives fail, staff members will now be permitted to deliver electric shocks to a portion of its adult residents as a means of correcting aggressive or self-injurious behavior. Back in 2010, UN official Manfred Nowak <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/shock-therapy-massachussetts-school/story?id=11047334">described the form of discipline</a> as "torture". Flammia revealed that the school had continued to shock "about 55 of its 300 residents" with Graduated Electronic Decelerator devices over the duration of the pandemic. "With the treatment, these residents can continue to participate in enriching experiences, enjoy visits with their families and, most importantly, live in safety and freedom from self-injurious and aggressive behaviors," he added in a statement. The Judge Rotenberg Educational Center Parents Association also issued a statement on the ruling and praised the court's decision to back the school. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/SusanGrundberg/status/1412909767601885185]] "We have and will continue to fight to keep our loved ones safe and alive and to retain access to this life-saving treatment of last resort," it said. According to Reuters, the FDA announced a ban on the use of electric shock devices as a means of tackling aggressive or self-harming behavior in March 2020. Additionally, the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center is the only school in the US that using shock treatment on its students, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/massachusetts-school-electric-shock-fda-b1880365.html">The Independent</a> reports. <h6>Featured image credit: NBC</h6>

Educational center wins court battle to use electric shock devices on students to 'correct' behavior

Top Stories

News

Controversial TV evangelist Pat Robertson dies at 93

News

Woman finds husband shot to death after receiving alarming text message

News

'Bob's Burgers' star Jay Johnston arrested by FBI over Capitol riots

News

Woman claims her boyfriend cheated on her with his own mom

News

X-Factor star Mitchell Callaway charged with murder of 9-month-old girl

News

Michael Tisius issues haunting final statement before death row execution