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Old 01-04-2007, 05:36 AM   #1
PurpleXVI
Emerald Dragon
 

Join Date: April 6, 2005
Location: Denmark
Age: 39
Posts: 903
I'm sure everyone has heard the story by now, but here's a link anyway.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6229799.stm

The short version is that two parents had a mentally retarded child that will never have more than a baby's intellect, and as a result they're stunting her growth and getting her surgery so she'll always be around that size and appearance, too. Ethical or not? Up to you.

Personally I'd say that, quite honestly? Mercy killing would be more fitting. She'll never have more brains than a baby, so it's not about her dignity and her quality of life. She doesn't have a life, she's just furniture that needs food(Mind you, I don't have that opinion of actual infants, but at least they'll end up as children or adults at some point.). It's arguable whether she even counts as sentient.

If she had a mind of her own and could talk for herself, then fine, I'd say, it would be a matter of her quality of life. If it was her choice and it didn't take the surgeons away from actually helping people with more pressing cases, then fine. However, in this case, the only PERSONS who are actually affected are her parents.

It's like keeping Terry Schiavo alive, in my mind. Pull the damn plug.
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