Another WTF - State Sanctioned Abuse

As if there isn't enough of a problem with abuse of children and mentally handicapped people in this country, here we go with a case of what is, IMO, nothing more than state-sanctioned
abuse and torture: State gives center 1-year extension to use shock treatments (for punishment/behavioral modification).

This just pisses me off. If a parent or caregiver did something like this, they'd be crucified in the media, called every name in the book and a few that haven't been published yet, the public screaming for them to have this same device attached to their genitalia or something, and then they'd be sitting their asses in prison for cruelty, child abuse, and any other charges the DA could think to tack on AFTER their parental rights have been terminated. But THE STATE does it, and it's hunky-dory? Granted, it's not the state specifically that is administering this shock therapy, but it is being endorsed, encouraged, and perpetuated by the state when they allow it to continue even in the face of evidence that it has been used inappropriately - not to mention barbarically - at this particular institution. I have a problem with the whole concept of this type of "behavior modification." I mean, really. These individuals may be mentally handicapped and/or emotionally impaired, but is inflicting pain upon them - especially inconsistently and months after the infraction occurred or even while THEY WERE JUST SLEEPING - going to make them BETTER?

I am ashamed of this facility and the agencies that allow them to practice in this manner and of the laws and legislators who created those laws that don't put a stop to this immediately. And people wonder why we're called "dirty Americans." Look how we treat our most vulnerable citizens. Maybe someone should reclassify these people's mental status as "retarded" if they don't have enough sense to treat another human being with a little more respect.