Last week on Bioedge, Michael Cook brought to our attention a story from the UK involving Lisa and Mike Chamberlain, soon-to-be parents of conjoined twins, who have refused to consider terminating their pregnancy. The exact extent to which the twins are conjoined is still not known to their doctors, but to date their physicians have seen two heads, a single body cavity and set of limbs, and have only heard a single heart beating. Doctors have estimated that the twins’ chances of survival are around 20%.
Even with these basic known facts, the Chamberlains have refused to consider termination. Why? For one, the couple tried to conceive for seven years–and upon conception, these two babies are their only children. To give them up would surely be a devastating tragedy. The Bioedge blog sharply criticized the Chamberlain’s critics, who have been many according to Bioedge, but in particular a columnist from The Telegraph who said that the couple is “selfish”, “irredeemably selfish” and condemning their children to a life as a “freak show”.
However, I wouldn’t be so quick to judge. For one, after seven years of trying to conceive, the recent news that your children are conjoined and have a 20% chance of survival would be enough to give any parent poor judgment. Moreover, after twenty weeks, when more conclusive data regarding whether the twins share all their vital organs, particularly the heart, come in–then it will be time to ask the parents to weigh all the information and to make and informed choice. Perhaps they will have to make a choice as many parents of conjoined twins do in favor of one twin over the over. Or perhaps termination of the pregnancy entirely will be the only option.
At this point, however, I think criticism of these parents is premature. Only they really understand how difficult this situation is. Once a full set of facts is available, they will have to make a decision. If the data suggest that the twins share all their vital organs and a single body, termination will likely be the only option. However, due to their personal religious beliefs (they are Roman Catholic), the Chamberlains still may not choose it. And even if the majority of persons disagree with their decision, ultimately it is Lisa and Mike Chamberlain who have to live with their moral choice. Even if we will never understand it.
Summer Johnson, PhD