ACTIVITY 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 disorder.
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?

 According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (1992), anencephaly is a

congenital condition in which the skull (part of the brain) is missing and the cerebral
cortex is nearly gone. Vital organs like the heart and kidneys, on the other hand, are
frequently normal. In this nation, between 1000 and 2000 live anencephalic births
occur each year. Brain stem function enables many anencephalic infants to survive for
hours or days and, in rare cases, for a few weeks. If it is the case that some organs are in
good condition, if I were the parent, I will do the same, because I think it’s better to
donate it, to help other children. In addition, according to the American Academy of
Pediatrics in 1992, there is currently a serious scarcity of pediatric organs, with an
 estimated 30 percent to 50 percent of children less than 2 years of age dying before an
organ becomes available. The ethical problem in the case is the law which forbids the
removal of organs until the donor is dead. In the name of the law, requests of the
parents were not given which later caused greater loss. It may be preferable if the rules
are changed since it would assist the medical sector, such as the organ donation
program at every hospital in Florida, in helping other sick children who require
transplants. Despite the fact that Theresa's parents consented to donate her organs,
they are unable to do so since it is legally immoral under the law of Florida. 

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

 Well as human it is not easy to just decide, because the emotional connection in your
child is one of the greatest moments of every parents. In the case of Theresa and her
family, they done morally good decision, for the reason that they could help other
infants and children with medical problems. But on the other side, the decision is not
easy. We humans need to be mentally prepared when doing decision. Some of the
possible road blocks in the case is the ethical standard in the state of Florida. Maybe, it
really hard for them to decide to give the organ of Theresa because of the laws exist in
their community. And also, medically speaking, there is also an ethical principle for the
hospital or physicians to obey, that can law dictates because it is ethical in their states,
but for me, it is actually a waste of opportunity for the children who need transplant
because it is very rare opportunity to seek organ donor. Overall, if the law in states in
Florida that time listen to them, maybe the organ of the baby Theresa helps and give a
chance to the sick children to live normally. 

1. Theresa Ann Ocampo Pearson is just an infant, the request of organ harvesting is
somehow unethical to the society. 
2. Theresa Ann Ocampo Pearson maybe just an infant but she is endowed with rights. 
3. The harvesting of organs would cause sooner death.