The Story of Jodie and Mary's situation Essay

Folayan Sokoya
PHI Ethics 7400 Essay 2
The Story of Jodie and Mary's situation presents many dilemmas. Jodie and Mary were twin girls, conjoined together at one organ. They were joined in a way which one of the twins, Mary had a heart and lung that were not developed properly. She was supplied oxygen and blood to live only through Jodie's normally functioning organs. Their parent's originally Italian citizens left to the United Kingdom to receive adequate medical attention. The surgeons predicted the larger than life dilemma would only allow for two more weeks. They knew that if Jodie and Mary continued to grow together the end results of Jodie's heart would be overcompensating, leading to both of their death. The Medical surgeons knew the only way to ultimately save Jody was to perform and ultimately lead to Mary's death. On one hand one twin Mary would be sacrificed and allow Jody to live or both would be killed by not choosing in light of the parent's Catholic beliefs. Ultimately a British Judge ordered that the twins be separated and Mary eventually died. Was this the right thing to do?
The two positions given to solve the dilemma are supported by reasons in each argument. I argue that the separation of the twins was wrong. It was not only against the parents wishes and overruled by numerous courts and doctors but it came down to intentionally affecting the results of the helpless twin Mary without any advantage to her fate. There was no permission by Mary and there was no end gain in Mary's favor. The reasons people argue against this position is because of obligation to the twins or the permission given to save two. The ethical theory that would gives implication of this is act utilitarianism.
Act Utilitarianism states that the best action is the one that produces the greatest total happiness. From this point of view the clear choice is no operation is done, there will be a result of two deaths as opposed to it being done there will only be one death. This idea supports the idea of Mary and Jody's happiness being accounted for if they could somehow express it.
Should none be saved to not kill one? Or should refusal not be an option and kill one as end means for the other? The act utilitarian here in this moral dilemma has little room for doubt.
The argument in favor of surgery would suggest premises in logical favor of saving Jody alone.
1. It is permissible to save as many as you can.
2. It is best to save one girl than to let both Jody and Mary die .
3. Therefore, it's permissible to save Jody.
Unlike the previous argument of quantity some would be more favor of the choice that deals with quality. From this point of view they would be in favor of also arguing the utilitarian position by further specifying the specific conditions that unintentional killing is permissible. With all things considered