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.
It does help. I uttered a bon mot that has gained some currency among my acquaintances: "Once an organization becomes large enough to have an HR department, its creativity begins to die." My caveat is that it's not really a dig at HR people--their existence is a symptom, not the cause of ossification. But yes, it does put them in a permanently awkward position. Harry Callahan said it most succinctly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp9s2IEb8gM. (And I will certainly use this in an upcoming column.) :) ... As for my late friend, he was a serene, astute, and supremely self-confident observer of human nature. I imagine he knew exactly what he was going to do when he accepted that position as head of the anencephaly task force.
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?
Can’t remember, and my friend has passed away. I’ll try to find the answer. Seems to me there was a court ruling of some sort.
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.
Thanks for that context. Decisions are always easy from the cheap seats.
Brings to mind the words of a wise man from the dim past "...cut the baby in half..."
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.
It does help. I uttered a bon mot that has gained some currency among my acquaintances: "Once an organization becomes large enough to have an HR department, its creativity begins to die." My caveat is that it's not really a dig at HR people--their existence is a symptom, not the cause of ossification. But yes, it does put them in a permanently awkward position. Harry Callahan said it most succinctly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp9s2IEb8gM. (And I will certainly use this in an upcoming column.) :) ... As for my late friend, he was a serene, astute, and supremely self-confident observer of human nature. I imagine he knew exactly what he was going to do when he accepted that position as head of the anencephaly task force.