I have had a couple of experiences with anencephalic children, and decisions are not as easy as they might seem. Anencephalic babies cry, suck and swallow, and some even seem to look around. If you put a hat on them they're almost indistinguishable from normal newborns. But that's all they'll ever do.
You can talk about their potential and future, but when it comes down to it, you're talking about killing a normal-acting newborn. It is not a simple matter.
One other thought, although I'm not sure it contributes to your book.
I was working with a VP of Personnel. He turned to me one day and said, "Everyone thinks my job is easy, but by the time a decision gets to me, all the easy answers are gone - and NO matter what I do, someone gets hurt."
Maybe there are decisions in life that are impossible to resolve with ethics. Perhaps your friend had learned this the hard way.
Okay, I'll bite - you said "...render the hospital’s dilemma moot."
What was the resolution of the issue? With a global prevalence of 1 in 4,600 births anencephalic - is that a significant source of body parts?
I have had a couple of experiences with anencephalic children, and decisions are not as easy as they might seem. Anencephalic babies cry, suck and swallow, and some even seem to look around. If you put a hat on them they're almost indistinguishable from normal newborns. But that's all they'll ever do.
You can talk about their potential and future, but when it comes down to it, you're talking about killing a normal-acting newborn. It is not a simple matter.
One other thought, although I'm not sure it contributes to your book.
I was working with a VP of Personnel. He turned to me one day and said, "Everyone thinks my job is easy, but by the time a decision gets to me, all the easy answers are gone - and NO matter what I do, someone gets hurt."
Maybe there are decisions in life that are impossible to resolve with ethics. Perhaps your friend had learned this the hard way.