Ethics: A Death, A Life

Ethical complexities are increasing at the start of life as well. Last week Paul Holc, the youngest heart-transplant patient ever, was alive because of how a death-and-life problem was resolved in one case. Nine weeks ago, Canadians Karen, 27, and Fred, 36, learned that their unborn child lacked most of her brain. Called anencephaly, the always fatal malformation occurs in six of 10,000 births. Determined that some good should come from their tragedy, the couple decided to donate their baby's organs.

Infants in need of organ transplants greatly outnumber donors, but anencephalics have normally not been used. Reason: their organs have...

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