Cochlear Implant Manufacturer Facing Multi-Million Dollar Fine

As a quick search on this blog for the word deaf shows, I am a pretty vocal advocate of Deaf rights, and quite anti-cochlear implant for d/Deaf children. Because of the nature of the procedure, and its permanence, I do believe it's a choice that an autonomous agent should consent to rather than have pushed onto them. And this article from the LA Times just adds to that belief: the FDA wants to fine cochlear implant manufacturer Advanced Bionics $2.2 million for apparent manufacturing violations that actually put patients at risk for additional hearing loss, electrical shocks, and other issues. (Frankly, those two are enough, as far as I'm concerned.)

As for my other objections, they are relatively simple from a technological standpoint. Unless technology has rapidly changed in the last few years, one of the major drawbacks of cochlear implants is that they do destroy any residual hearing. This is why many doctors suggest only implanting one ear, in case a better technological or biological solution comes along later down the line. So you are wedded to the device implants, and that technological level, for the remainder of your life.

Stop and think about this for a minute. Go dig around in your junk drawer and take a look at your cell phone from three or four years ago. Or better yet, go find a computer from the 1980s.

How would you like to have that technology (in all it's now unsupported glory) embedded as a part of you that you are reliant upon for the remainder of your life, regardless of whether or not people continue to support that level of technology?

From a purely technological, I spent too long in the software industry, standpoint (and leaving out all notions of Deaf culture), it's simply a bad idea.

This Advanced Bionics lawsuit is just another in a long list of reasons cochlear implantation is a decision that should be made only by competent adult agents.
-Kelly Hills

"Sweet Nothing in My Ear"

Tonight at 9pm, Hallmark is airing the original movie "Sweet Nothing in My Ear". Before you decide to lynch me, hear me out: the movie is about a married couple, one hearing and one Deaf, who have to decide whether or not their deaf child should receive a cochlear implant. Director Joseph Sargent has a history of working with Deaf actors and making movies that are considered accurate and respectful towards the Deaf point of view, and the cast is full of both Deaf and hearing actors, including Marlee Matlin in her first full ASL-only role since "Children of a Lesser God."

At its heart, this story is one of medical debate: is hearing the norm? Is a lack of hearing a handicap that needs to be fixed? Or is it just a part of life, a condition to be accepted and dealt with and moved on from?

I know this is a subject that gets a lot of commentary around here, which is why I'm mentioning the movie being on this evening. Given I'm in the finals crunch, I probably won't have time to watch and/or comment on the movie for a few days, but did assume others here would likely be interested - both in the subject matter, and how ethical dilemmas are played out on television.
-Kelly Hills

Genetic DisEnhancement -- Does reproductive autonomy extend to choosing a disability?

From the UK Telegraph today, deaf couples could be allowed to screen their embryos in order to select a deaf child after protesters persuaded the Government to remove references to deafness from the proposed Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

I can appreciate (although not necessarily agree with) the stance that tampering with any embryo is 'playing God.' Similarly, I can appreciate the arguments that genetic enhancements pose concerns in terms of creating inequities and in terms of eugenics. But I have difficulty understanding, much less appreciating, the argument that a couple should be allowed to genetically 'disenhance' their child. I understand that some deaf couples argue that deafness is not a disability, but rather "being part of a linguistic minority." But maybe it is because I spent too much time in the Rhode Island State House as legislative counsel in the 80's and 90's listening to the testimony of Deaf Advocacy groups lobbying to make sure that public services complied with the Americans with Disabilities Act. I have difficulty reconciling that deafness, under the law, is a recognized disability, but for the purposes of reproductive autonomy, it is not?

My concern about removing the clause banning the creation of disabled children entirely, is why stop at deafness? Aren't the primary purposes of medicine to heal, to cure diseases, restore, and alleviate suffering? One commenter suggests, by way of a 'wrongful birth suit', the imposition of legal liability on the part of the parent to any offspring deliberately brought into the world with less than the normal range of faculties.

So the question is how far does reproductive autonomy go? Nobody wants to see a fellow human being struggle or suffer, especially in the name of 'reproductive autonomy.'