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Separating Conjoined Twins

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Bombila

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The ethical considerations in these unusual situations are dependent on many factors. In this case, it seems the child(ren) had other medical problems, which may or may not have been related to the two heads/conjoined twins issue. I know most two-headed mammals tend to die of genetic problems that go along with their most obvious anomaly, though reptiles (two headed snakes, turtles) can get along fine.

That said, if both are very likely to die, and removing one may save one, possibly that is a choice that must be made. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
 
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wanderingone

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I agree with Bombila- making the decision to separate conjoined twins isn't a decision that is the same for each situation-many factors influence the final choice.

In the story of this boy there is the added dilemma of not being able to afford medical care at all.

I think it can be ethical to separate conjoined twins when one will not survive depending on the individual situation- however when the decision not separate is made it is usually the fact that neither will survive because of the sharing of vital organs. What looks like a single child with 2 heads would usually be a very complicated combination of 2 bodies - how much of each twin developed independently of the other would be the deciding factor for the viability of separation as far as I know.
 
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Bombila

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Praying, IMO, that is too simple a proposition. You have to specify, for instance, if both heads are active, have a brain, appear likely to have cognition as they develop; whether both will die if one is not removed, and so on.

If you are trying to ask, both heads being equally sentient (or sentient at all) and life not at stake for both without the removal of one, then I guess you mean would it be ethical to remove one for cosmetic purposes, in which case the answer is no, of course not. They are, after all, just a set of twins: one head is not a monster.

The fact is, none of these conjoined twins cases, which this is, are ever so straightforward as that. There are always complications with regard to the support various shared organs give to either twin, and often extreme variation between the level of development one or the other may attain.

It's a tragic situation, and some very admirable people have lived out their lives under these kinds of physical circumstances, joined for life to brother or sister, forced to share every moment, every intimate physical detail, every milestone, and often at the end one is forced to face, in their only lonely moment, imminent death attached to the already deceased body of their twin.
 
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praying

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How is it tragic?

This is two minds and one body. It is as intimate as any two people can be. Let them live.

Well the babies died in the article but it made me think would it be ethical to separate one given these circumstances, two separate and distinct heads sharing the same body.
 
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Bombila

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How is it tragic?

This is two minds and one body. It is as intimate as any two people can be. Let them live.

Read some autobiographies and biographies of conjoined twins. It is more often tragic than not.

I don't think anyone is suggesting randomly killing conjoined twins at birth. Where did you get that morbid idea?
 
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wanderingone

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Well really my question is specific to this type of situation where there are two separate and distinct heads, Where there is only one body; would it be ethical.

There's not enough known about this situation. I saw a documentary that included conjoined twins who appeared to be "two heads" "one body" Despite that there are 2 individuals - they each have their own thoughts, they each can fully express themselves verbally. In this story the death eliminates the ability to answer fully. I don't think I can say what I would do if I knew the twin who would be killed by removing them (if it was even possible) was a feeling individual capable of development.
 
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