Baby Theresa was born in Florida (USA) in 1992 with anencephaly, one of the worst genetic disorders. Sometimes referred to as "babies without brains", infants with this disease are born without important parts of the brain and the top of the skull is also missing. Most cases are detected during pregnancy and usually aborted. About half of those not aborted are stillborn, In the United States, about 350 babies are born alive each year and usually die within days. Baby Theresa was born alive. Her parents decided to donate her organs for transplant. Her parents and her physicians agreed that the organs should be removed while she was alive ( thus causing her inevitable death to take place sooner) but that was not allowed by Florida law. When she died after nine days,

Social Psychology (10th Edition)
10th Edition
ISBN:9780134641287
Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers
Publisher:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers
Chapter1: Introducing Social Psychology
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1RQ1
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Baby Theresa was born in Florida (USA) in 1992 with anencephaly, one of the
worst genetic disorders. Sometimes referred to as "babies without brains",
infants with this disease are born without important parts of the brain and the
top of the skull is also missing. Most cases are detected during pregnancy and
usually aborted. About half of those not aborted are stillborn. In the United
States, about 350 babies are born alive each year and usually die within days.
Baby Theresa was born alive. Her parents decided to donate her organs for
transplant. Her parents and her physicians agreed that the organs should be
removed while she was alive ( thus causing her inevitable death to take place
sooner) but that was not allowed by Florida law. When she died after nine days,
the organs had deteriorated too much and could not be used.
Discussion Questions:
1. How do we put a value on human life?
2. What should one do when there is a conflict between the law and one's
own moral position about an issue?
3. If you were in a position to make the final decision in this case, what would
it be and why?
Transcribed Image Text:Baby Theresa was born in Florida (USA) in 1992 with anencephaly, one of the worst genetic disorders. Sometimes referred to as "babies without brains", infants with this disease are born without important parts of the brain and the top of the skull is also missing. Most cases are detected during pregnancy and usually aborted. About half of those not aborted are stillborn. In the United States, about 350 babies are born alive each year and usually die within days. Baby Theresa was born alive. Her parents decided to donate her organs for transplant. Her parents and her physicians agreed that the organs should be removed while she was alive ( thus causing her inevitable death to take place sooner) but that was not allowed by Florida law. When she died after nine days, the organs had deteriorated too much and could not be used. Discussion Questions: 1. How do we put a value on human life? 2. What should one do when there is a conflict between the law and one's own moral position about an issue? 3. If you were in a position to make the final decision in this case, what would it be and why?
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