Born on August 8th, conjoined twins Mary and Jodi, struggle to live their lives due to the problems Mary is trying to overcome. These twins were born joined at the circular pelvis, one of the twins (Mary), has a useless heart along with lungs that don’t function and an underdeveloped brain. The other twin (Jodie) is glimmering and very much alert, Mary depends on Jodie’s lungs and brain and sooner or later Jodie will have heart failure that will kill them both in six months. The debate raises, Kill Mary or save Jodie? I agree with the parents in that, deciding to let one of their daughters go is a big deal and must take quite the emotional toll on them. When the parents found out both of the girls could not possibly be saved they called off the surgery saying, “We could not possibly agree to any surgery being undertaken that will kill one of our daughters” (Parents of Mary and Jodie, J.F.O. Mcallister). The parents have a very reasonable explanation as to why this surgery should not take place because, no parent ever wants to let one of their babies go, especially having to pick one to live. In the belief that taking the life of one of the babies is absurd, it would be a more prominent decision to let the surgery take place and at least give one baby the chance to live. Mary could be viewed as a kind of unjust aggressor, sapping Jodie’s lifeblood to the point of killing her, thus entitling Jodie to self defense (Judge at hearing, J.F.O. Mcallister). The judge arguing that this could be an aggression towards Jodie is a little crazy, but he puts up a good point because he knows what the right thing is to do, and that is to detach Mary and Jodie. This argument of moving forward with the surgery is correct in that no one deserves to waste away because the parents aren’t strong enough to make a decision. Why is it okay to sit there and watch one babies suffer tremendously while the other one lays there getting the life sucked out of her, it is not ethical. Let Jodie live a relatively normal life? Or must they do nothing to harm Mary and stand by while both certainly die (J.F.O. Mcallister)? Mcallister brings up a good point, is it healthier to watch both of your twin babies die and have to share that story or to let the suffering one go and have at least one of your babies to hold and get to share the story of how she lived. In my opinion sitting back and watching two humans die when you know it’s possible to save one it is ridiculous and a selfish way to think.
Works Cited
Mcallister, J.F.O. “Kill Mart to Save Jodie?” Ethics. Time, 18 September 2000.
Cited: Mcallister, J.F.O. “Kill Mart to Save Jodie?” Ethics. Time, 18 September 2000.
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