CASE STUDY #1

Theresa Ann Campo Pearson, an infant known to the public as “Baby Theresa,” was born in Florida
in 1992. Baby Theresa had anencephaly, one of the worst genetic disorders. Anencephalic infants are
sometimes referred to as “babies without brains,” and this gives roughly the right picture, but it is not quite
accurate. Important parts of the brain – the cerebrum and cerebellum – are missing, as is the top of the
skull. There is, however, as brain stem, and so autonomic functions such as breathing, and heartbeat are
possible. In the United States, most cases of anencephaly are detected during the pregnancy, and the
fetuses are usually aborted. Of those not aborted, half are stillborn. About 350 are born alive each year,
and they usually die within days.

Baby Theresa’s story is remarkable only because her parents made an unusual request. Knowing
that their baby would die soon and could never be conscious, Theresa’s parents volunteered her organs for
transplant. They thought her kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, and eyes should go to other children who could
benefit from them. Her physicians agreed. Thousands of infants need transplants each year, and there are
never enough organs available. But the organs were not taken, because Florida law forbids the removal of
organs until the donor is dead. By the time Baby Theresa died, nine days later, it was too late for the
children – her organs had deteriorated too much to be harvested and transplanted.

QUESTIONS:

1. What is the ethical problem in the case?

The ethical problem in the case is the donating an organ while the donor is still living. It is an ethical
problem because their country, which is Florida, forbids to donate any kind of organ until the donor is dead.
The country regulates that kind of law because they see it as a wrongdoing, it feels like you are killing your
own baby by donating his/her organs when it is confirmed to be alive, even though you’re doing it because
you are surely that the baby will die soon and just having a thought of donating the baby’s organs to help
the other babies who will need it.

2. What are the roadblocks in making a good decision in the case?

The roadblocks in making a good decision in this case is the law. Florida’s law says that they forbid
the removal of organs until the donor is dead. Donating an organ is a good thing because it will help the
other patient who needs a transplant, but since the donor is still alive, the law stops that decision.