In our continuous discussion of ethics and death Benjamin, in chapter 7 of Philosophy and this Actual World, asks us to imagine a case where a child, Andrew, is born with anencephaly, " ... a condition in which the embryologic closure of the neural tube never completes, leaving the embryo to develop without the upper portion of its skull. These embryos sometimes continue to develop into the fetal stage and may even survive to be born alive, but with upper cranium and scalp missing and the brain open to the outer world. [Although anencephalic infants have a function brain stem but because they lack the functioning cerebral hemispheres, they do not and will never experience consciousness] These babies may survive outside the womb for varying amounts of time, anywhere between minutes and weeks. Although the condition is always fatal and there are no techniques to correct the problem..."(anencephaly web page). In another hospital there is Helen, a newborn with hypoplastic left heart syndrome " [which] consists of an underdeveloped Left Atrium and Left Ventricle. The whole left side of the heart which pumps the blood to the body is underdeveloped and small and is unable to perform that function. This means the baby is unable to get blood to his body through the Aortic Valve, the Aortic Arch and the front parts. [a congenital malformation very likely to lead to an early death]" (childrens heart institute). Apart from their conditions both infants are healthy; Helen's brain, in particular, is fine, and Andrew's heart is fine. So comes the question "If it is surgically possible to replace Helen's heart with Andrew's healthy one should the surgeons do it? Is it morally right or wrong? There are many aspects to take into account when surveying a situation like this. Aside from mere ethics there are people involved, and differing opinions from religion to background belief.
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