Baby Teresa is, due to a congenital disorder, born anencephalic. That is, she is in essence born without a brain. She lacks all anatomical structures associated with learning, memory, emotion, communication, and personality. She does have a brain stem, which controls autonomic functions like breathing and heart rate. As a result of her condition, Baby Teresa is almost certain to die a very short time after birth. Even if she did survive, Teresa would be a “vegetable” for her entire life, never able to think, feel, or have meaningful relationships with others. She would never be able to communicate any desires or preferences, and in fact would have no such desires or preferences. She would have to be hospitalized indefinitely, never able to care for herself. Teresa’s parents do not want their child’s life to be wasted, and volunteer Teresa’s organs, like kidneys, heart, liver, etc., which are healthy, to help save other children. Knowing their child is very likely to die anyway, and that even if she lives her quality of life would be poor, Teresa’s parents volunteer Teresa’s organs to generate some moral good. If doctors wait until Teresa dies naturally, without intervention (which, again, is likely to happen), Teresa’s organs will be damaged by the process of dying and be unsuitable for transplant to other children. If doctors act by the wishes of Teresa’s parents, they must willfully end a human life. Why would one argue this is the right thing to do?
Baby Teresa is, due to a congenital disorder, born anencephalic. That is, she is in essence born without a brain. She lacks all anatomical structures associated with learning, memory, emotion, communication, and personality. She does have a brain stem, which controls autonomic functions like breathing and heart rate. As a result of her condition, Baby Teresa is almost certain to die a very short time after birth. Even if she did survive, Teresa would be a “vegetable” for her entire life, never able to think, feel, or have meaningful relationships with others. She would never be able to communicate any desires or preferences, and in fact would have no such desires or preferences. She would have to be hospitalized indefinitely, never able to care for herself. Teresa’s parents do not want their child’s life to be wasted, and volunteer Teresa’s organs, like kidneys, heart, liver, etc., which are healthy, to help save other children. Knowing their child is very likely to die anyway, and that even if she lives her quality of life would be poor, Teresa’s parents volunteer Teresa’s organs to generate some moral good. If doctors wait until Teresa dies naturally, without intervention (which, again, is likely to happen), Teresa’s organs will be damaged by the process of dying and be unsuitable for transplant to other children. If doctors act by the wishes of Teresa’s parents, they must willfully end a human life. Why would one argue this is the right thing to do?
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