Judge says conjoined twin should die to save sister

LONDON (Reuters) -- A British High Court judge has ruled that a baby girl should die so that her conjoined twin sister can survive and probably live a healthy life.

The decision of Judge Robert Johnson was against the wishes of the parents of the girls.

The twins -- identified only by the false names of Jodie and Mary in order to disguise their true identity -- were born at St. Mary's Hospital, Manchester, on August 8 and are attached by their lower abdomen.

Unless they are separated, both are expected to die within six months. If they are separated Jodie will stand a chance of surviving and living a normal life. For her sister though, separation means death.

It was in those circumstances that the judge gave the go-ahead for the operation to separate them.

In his judgment, Johnson said the parents loved each of the children equally and could not bring themselves to choose life for one if it meant death for the other.

The parents come from what was described as a remote community in Europe, whose location was not disclosed. The mother came to England to give birth when she realized they were conjoined twins. There were no facilities in her own country to handle the birth.

In written evidence, some of which was read out by the judge, the parents said: "We cannot begin to accept or contemplate that one of our children should die to enable the other one to survive.

"That is not God's will. Everyone has the right to life, so why should we kill one of our daughters to enable the other one to survive?"

In giving the go-ahead for the operation which could save one of the twins, the judge said the case presented a "horrendous scenario."

He said that while Mary would die once the separation took place and her blood supply was cut off, Jodie would lead a relatively normal life, "probably walking unaided, probably attending school and probably being able to have children."

He added: "Jodie's life would be virtually as long as, and would have the quality of that of, any ordinary child."

Mary had no lungs and faced being dragged around by her sister, unable to react.

The judge added that Mary was alive only because of her physical attachment to Jodie.

"The blood and oxygen that maintains her life come from Jodie. In the words of one of the doctors, Jodie is her life support machine," he added.

A spokesman for the Official Solicitor, who is the legal guardian appointed to protect the interests of those unable to manage their own affairs, said later that consideration was being given to the possibility of an appeal.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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