It was a fine morning. Sue's just given birth to a lovely baby girl. She's born imperfect but she meant the world to Sue with that cute angelic face of hers. Sue named her Angel, just what she was for Sue.
Angel was diagnosed with Epidermolysis Bullosa, a rare genetic disease characterized by the presence of extremely fragile skin and recurrent blister formation, resulting from minor mechanical friction or trauma.
The doctors said that she might not live to see her 1st birthday and to save emotional pain and financial burden, it would be kinder to let her die.
Do you think so?
Britain's Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology brings the subject of active euthanasia for the sickest newborns to be debated by society.
They claim that it's for the overall good of families, sparing parents the emotional burden and financial hardship.
The college said: "We would like the working party to think more radically about non-resuscitation, withdrawal of treatment decisions... and active euthanasia, as they are ways of widening the management options available to the sickest of newborns."
The suggestion brings mixed views.
John Wyatt, professor of neonatal paediatrics at University College Hospital London, said: "Intentional killing is not part of medical care. The majority of doctors and health care professionals believe that once you introduce the possibility of intentional killing into medical practice you change the fundamental nature of medicine."
While John Harris, professor of bioethics at the University of Manchester, said it was not a question of whether or not these decisions were taken - as they already were through withdrawing treatment - but how to take them in the most humane way.
Is there any humane way of taking a life? Even if you inject a baby to "sleep" and watch the life goes out of their eyes, is that considered humane? Granted, the baby is sick. Would you let men decide or let nature decide?
Life is a gift and miracles can happen. No one should have the power to take someone's life, even doctors. What you can't give, you don't take away. What makes you think that the baby wouldn't want to live or that when she's all grown up she's not going to be happy? It's not for you to decide. Are those abnormal and disabled babies so unworthy of life that we won't even give them the chance to live?
As it turns out, Angel's going to be 10 this November. She lives happily with a loving family that loves her unconditionally. Her parents gave her a chance to live and never regretted a day ever since.
So dear Soulcasters, what do you think about euthanasia on sick/disabled babies? Do you condone it or condemn it?
