A drug can make children with the most common form of dwarfism taller – but height isn’t the same as a better life

By Erin Pritchard, Senior lecturer in Disability Studies, Liverpool Hope University
Samantha Lilly, Graduate Research Teaching Fellow, Faculty of Health, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University

A drug that helps children with the most common form of dwarfism grow taller has sparked an ethical debate within the dwarfism community.

Some parents hope that as well as increasing size, it will prevent serious health complications and improve their children’s independence. But critics worry that a treatment focused on increasing height sends the message that dwarfism is something that needs to be corrected.

The drug, vosoritide, sold as Voxzogo, is used to treat children with achondroplasia,…

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