Bill
HD 2660
Massachusetts bill restricting aversive therapy use on minors and disabled individuals to prevent harm from painful behavioral modification techniques.
HD 2660 seeks to restrict or prohibit the use of aversive therapy—treatment methods that use unpleasant stimuli (pain, discomfort, or unpleasant sensations) to discourage unwanted behaviors—in Massachusetts, particularly for vulnerable populations like minors and individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The bill targets practices commonly used in some residential facilities and therapeutic settings that employ these controversial behavioral modification techniques.
Aversive therapy has been associated with significant physical and psychological harm, with particular concern regarding its use on children and disabled individuals who cannot meaningfully consent. This legislation addresses a gap in existing protections and reflects growing medical and ethical consensus against such practices, which have been abandoned by mainstream behavioral health organizations.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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