2000-9-24 14:31:00
Chris brought up an interesting situation that will test our middle way principles to Solomon proportions.
He writes:
"Television news here in Tasmania, last night carried pictures and a story which some may have already seen.
"Pictures and a story of Siamese twins born to a family in England children who are now the subject of a court battle as to whether they should live or die.
"Siamese children born to a deeply religious family as a manifestation of their belief .. and their prayers.
"I looked at the images of these children lying in their crib -- their bodies in the form of a perfect cross.
"I heard the names they had been given -- Mary and Jodie.
"How close to Mary and Joseph can one get?
"I saw the manifestation of Incubus and Succubus -- two children who could only survive by sucking the life force out of each other."
JJ:
Let me recap the situation as the papers have reported it. A Roman Catholic couple from the Island of Malta gave birth to Siamese twins. They took them to England where they had the greatest hope of saving their lives with greater medical expertise than was available in their homeland.
The doctors examined the twins and declared that in their present condition they would probably only live a couple months. The only solution was to perform an operation to separate them with the essential body parts going to Mary which would cause Jody, the weaker twin, to die.
After reaching this conclusion, the doctors recommended the operation in hope of saving the life of one of the children. The parents, however, were against this recommendation and stated: "We believe that nature should take its course. If it's God's will that both our children should not survive then so be it."
The authorities disagreed, and the case went to the courts of England which resulted in the decision that the one child should live at he sacrifice of the other. The feeling was that it is better that one live than they both die.
Question One:
Was this a correct and just decision? Is it better to have one live at the sacrifice of the other than have both the twins die?
Question Two:
Was it right for the state to take this decision away from the jurisdiction of the parents?
Question Three:
What is the main criterion to use in answering Question One?
Copyright © 2000 by J.J. Dewey, All Rights Reserved