Conjoined twins should be separated
BMJ 2000; 321 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.321.7264.788/f (Published 30 September 2000) Cite this as: BMJ 2000;321:788
- Clare Dyer, legal correspondent
- BMJ
The conjoined twins whose plight has transfixed Britain for weeks should be separated to save the life of the stronger twin, three appeal court judges ruled last week.
The ruling means that doctors may go ahead with the operation to stop Mary, the weaker twin, draining the life from Jodie, the stronger. Mary has no functioning heart or lungs and relies on her sister for oxygenated blood. Without an operation, both twins will die.
Three appeal court judges ruled unanimously that the operation should take place in Mary's best interests. But the parents of the 6 week …
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