Press Release Archive

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2007 On January 6, 2007, after receiving complaints and concerns about what press reports are calling "Ashley's Treatment", the Washington Protection and Advocacy System (WPAS), pursuant to its federal authority, opened a preliminary investigation into this treatment. David Carlson, an attorney and WPAS Associate Director of Legal Advocacy, is assigned as lead investigator. We are concerned with what we have read and heard in the media accounts. We want to learn the facts so that we can make a determination, among other things, as to whether or not all of the requirements of applicable law were met. Once we complete our investigation, we will determine what, if any, additional steps will be necessary. Under our federal mandate, we have requested documents from Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle through its counsel. Counsel for Children’s Hospital has stated that the Hospital intends to cooperate fully with our investigation. We will not be commenting further to the press on the investigation at this time. Questions regarding the Washington Protection and Advocacy System and its federal authority may be directed to Mark Stroh, Executive Director or Deborah Dorfman, Associate Executive Director and Director of Legal Advocacy. # # # WPAS is a private, nonprofit agency founded in 1972 and mandated by the federal government to provide protection and advocacy services to people with disabilities pursuant to the Developmental Disabilities Act and other federal statutes. Every state and territory in the United States has an organization like WPAS to provide independent protection and advocacy service to individuals with disabilities.

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