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The Edge of LifeSolomon’s Dilemma

The Edge of Life: Solomon’s Dilemma CHAPTER 8 Should Conjoined Twins Jodie and Mary Have Been Separated? The tragic case of conjoined twins “Mary” and “Jodie,” pseudonyms given to the children to preserve anonymity, made news around the world and sent ethicists into speculation. Born in Manchester, England on August 8, 2000, Mary and Jodie’s appear- ance was so unusual and their disabilities so severe that several doctors had to excuse themselves from giving care to the twins. Jodie and Mary were joined at the lower abdomen and shared a spine and so were classified as “ischiopagus conjoined twins, which means they were joined in the pelvic region and had four lower legs between them” (Kaveny 2001, 756). Though both twins had nearly a full complement of organs, Jodie’s heart and lungs maintained both of their lives since Mary’s were not sufficiently developed to pump oxygenated blood. Doctors predicted that Jodie’s circulatory system would give out in a matter of weeks under the strain of supporting both girls. Thus, they came to a decision to rival Solomon’s: Should one twin be sacrificed in order to save the other or should both be allowed to perish? In light of medical testimony, a British high court judge http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png

The Edge of LifeSolomon’s Dilemma

Part of the Philosophy and Medicine Book Series (volume 85)
Editors: Spicker, Stuart F.; Engelhardt, H. Tristram; Wildes, Kevin Wm.
The Edge of Life — Jan 1, 2005
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Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Copyright
© Springer 2005
ISBN
978-1-4020-3155-7
Pages
123 –131
DOI
10.1007/1-4020-3156-4_8
Publisher site
See Chapter on Publisher Site

Abstract

CHAPTER 8 Should Conjoined Twins Jodie and Mary Have Been Separated? The tragic case of conjoined twins “Mary” and “Jodie,” pseudonyms given to the children to preserve anonymity, made news around the world and sent ethicists into speculation. Born in Manchester, England on August 8, 2000, Mary and Jodie’s appear- ance was so unusual and their disabilities so severe that several doctors had to excuse themselves from giving care to the twins. Jodie and Mary were joined at the lower abdomen and shared a spine and so were classified as “ischiopagus conjoined twins, which means they were joined in the pelvic region and had four lower legs between them” (Kaveny 2001, 756). Though both twins had nearly a full complement of organs, Jodie’s heart and lungs maintained both of their lives since Mary’s were not sufficiently developed to pump oxygenated blood. Doctors predicted that Jodie’s circulatory system would give out in a matter of weeks under the strain of supporting both girls. Thus, they came to a decision to rival Solomon’s: Should one twin be sacrificed in order to save the other or should both be allowed to perish? In light of medical testimony, a British high court judge

Published: Jan 1, 2005

Keywords: Fallopian Tube; Ectopic Pregnancy; Vital Organ; Double Effect; Bodily Integrity

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