1
|
Tubbs RS, Ditty B, Bosmia AN, Bosmia AN. Ischiopagus and diprosopus in India: two pairs of conjoined twins perceived as incarnations of Hindu deities. J Relig Health 2015; 54:87-92. [PMID: 23733407 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-013-9737-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
This article briefly reviews two specific types of conjoined twins, ischiopagus and diprosopus, and discusses recent cases of such twins born in India. Some members of the Hindu community worshiped these conjoined twins as incarnations of Hindu deities. In discussing this phenomenon, the authors aim to elucidate certain features of the faith tradition of Hinduism itself. The reception of these conjoined twins as incarnations of Hindu deities can be understood by examining two salient features of Hindu polytheism: the pictorial depiction of Hindu deities with multiple appendages and the concept of an incarnation, or avatar, of a Hindu deity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R Shane Tubbs
- Children's of Alabama, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Ambulatory Care Center, 1600 7th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA,
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Boniolo G. Is an account of identity necessary for bioethics? What post-genomic biomedicine can teach us. Stud Hist Philos Biol Biomed Sci 2013; 44:401-411. [PMID: 23751792 DOI: 10.1016/j.shpsc.2013.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2013] [Revised: 04/24/2013] [Accepted: 05/07/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Is a theory of identity necessary for bioethics? In this paper I investigate that question starting from an empirical explication of identity based on post-genomics, in particular on epigenetics. After analysing whether the classic problems a theory of identity has to cope with (fictional transplants; conjoined twins; and definition of death) also affect the proposed epigenetic account of identity, I deal with three topics (the assumption of moral responsibility; decision maintenance in the case of advance directives; and the attribution of value to human beings at given developmental stages) to offer an insight on the relationship between that account and bioethics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Boniolo
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milano, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Milano Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milano, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Poole RF. Reflections on the birth of conjoined twins. CMAJ 2007; 177:1235. [PMID: 17984476 DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.1070125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
|
4
|
Friedman JH. Being "normal". Med Health R I 2005; 88:336. [PMID: 16350931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
|
5
|
MESH Headings
- Anesthesia
- Congenital Abnormalities/history
- History, 17th Century
- History, 18th Century
- History, 19th Century
- History, 20th Century
- History, 21st Century
- History, Ancient
- Humans
- Postoperative Care
- Prenatal Diagnosis
- Surgical Procedures, Operative
- Twins, Conjoined/classification
- Twins, Conjoined/embryology
- Twins, Conjoined/psychology
- Twins, Conjoined/surgery
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lewis Spitz
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, England.
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
The article questions the assumption that conjoined twins are necessarily two people or persons by employing arguments based on different points of view: non-personal vitalism, the person as a sentient being, the person as an agent, the person as a locus of narrative and valuation, and the person as an embodied mind. Analogies employed from the cases of amputation, multiple personality disorder, abortion, split-brain patients and cloning. The article further questions the assumption that a conjoined twin's natural interest and wish is separation. I first contend that separation is such a radical procedure as to render the post-separation person different from the pre-separation one. Therefore, it is not possible to benefit the pre-separation twin by the act of separation. The article concludes with a critical evaluation of the tendency in bioethics to regard ethical challenges as rivalry between individuals competing for scarce resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y Michael Barilan
- Department of Internal Medicine B, Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Barilan YM. Head-counting vs. heart-counting: an examination of the recent case of the conjoined twins from Malta. Perspect Biol Med 2002; 45:593-603. [PMID: 12388890 DOI: 10.1353/pbm.2002.0063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
This paper reexamines the recent case of the conjoined twins from Malta. Survival was said to be possible only through separation, which would actually leave only one twin alive. The parents refused to allow the killing of one to save the other, but the court ruled that this would amount to the neglect of innocent life. The article questions the assumption that the case is indeed a struggle between two people. Further, it questions the assumption that a conjoined twin's natural interest and wish is separation. Historical evidence shows that many conjoined twins do not wish for separation, even when it becomes a question of survival.The article concludes with a critical evaluation of the tendency in contemporary society and particularly in bioethics to regard ethical challenges as rivalry between individuals competing for scarce resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y Michael Barilan
- Department of Internal Medicine B, Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
Conjoined twins were born on 8th August 2000 in Manchester. After a 2-month period of legal fighting between their parents and the medical team, which was widely reported in the media, the twins were surgically separated on 7th November 2000. This case-report scrutinises the ethical dilemma from a fresh perspective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Gold
- Neonatal Unit, Hospital for children, Armand-Trousseau, 26 avenue du Dr Arnold-Netter, 75571 Cédex 12, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
|
10
|
Mifflin PC. Jodie and Mary. Ethical and legal implications of separating conjoined twins. Pract Midwife 2001; 4:48-9. [PMID: 12026642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
|
11
|
Abstract
The birth of 'Siamese' twins in August 2000 whose parents refused to consent to surgery for separation required English courts to decide whether the twins could lawfully be separated despite that refusal when one twin would certainly die as a direct surgical result. The Court of Appeal unanimously upheld the trial judge's decision to authorize surgery, taking account of principles of family law, criminal law and human rights law. Parental duties to the viable twin were found consistent with the justification of allowing, without intending, natural death of the non-viable twin. The right to human dignity of both twins supported the justification of separation surgery. The decision did not elevate physicians' choices over parents', but subjected both to the law. The hospital was found entitled to bring the case to court, but not obliged; it could have declined surgery in conformity with the parents' wishes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B M Dickens
- Faculty of Law, Faculty of Medicine and Joint Center for Bioethics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
| | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Abstract
There are increasing numbers of attempts to surgically separate conjoined twins. Almost every type of conjoined twins have been separated, with varying results. Surgeons must often make the decision as to the desirability and feasibility of separation. These decisions are complicated by ethical problems that involve patient privacy, the allocation of shared organs, and in some instances the necessity for one twin to die to save the other. Although life as a conjoined twin would appear to be intolerable, there are historical as well as current instances of conjoined twins who have progressed to adulthood as relatively well-adjusted individuals. Thus, in some situations, it may be better not to operate on these patients. At one time or another, when individual cases have been studied by theologians, all faiths have agreed that the sacrifice of one twin to save the other is ethical. When one twin is clearly stronger than the other and has the best chance for long-term survival, it also appears to be desirable to give that twin the shared organs that allow gastrointestinal and genitourinary function and ambulation. It is now possible to predict the pattern of shared organs in most cases based on an external examination. It is no longer necessary to subject these patients to prolonged, invasive tests, which may be dangerous and provide at best incomplete information. The surgeon should take great care to protect his patients' privacy and resist efforts by the media to create a "television circus"" over these patients.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Abnormalities, Multiple/history
- Abnormalities, Multiple/surgery
- Confidentiality
- Double Effect Principle
- Ethics
- Ethics, Medical
- Female
- History, 16th Century
- History, 19th Century
- History, 20th Century
- History, Medieval
- Humans
- Infant, Newborn
- Intention
- Male
- Patient Selection
- Religion and Medicine
- Risk Assessment
- Tissue and Organ Procurement
- Twins, Conjoined/psychology
- Twins, Conjoined/surgery
- Withholding Treatment
Collapse
|
13
|
Douglas J. Double miracle. Nurs Times 1989; 85:16-7. [PMID: 2475860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
|
14
|
Miller A, Guernsey C, Manger G. Nursing Lin and Win. Can Nurse 1986; 82:19-22. [PMID: 2942234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
|
15
|
Abstract
Three cases of conjoined twins are presented: two thorocopagus and one craniopagus. The diagnosis of conjoining varied from late second trimester to time of term delivery. Delivery mode was both by vaginal and cesarean routes, and occurred at both level one and level three hospitals. Antenatal diagnostic procedures and issues in obstetric management are discussed. A suggested obstetric management sequence for conjoined twins is proposed.
Collapse
|
16
|
|
17
|
Sweeting T, Patterson P. Lin and Win Htut: the conjoined twins from Burma. Can Nurse 1984; 80:18-20. [PMID: 6210138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
|
18
|
Jarvik ME, Gritz ER, Rose JE. Cigarette smoking behavior in conjoined twins. Acta Genet Med Gemellol (Roma) 1983; 32:239-43. [PMID: 6673459 DOI: 10.1017/s0001566000005092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
A study of cigarette smoking was undertaken in a pair of craniopagus twins to determine how a transfer of products of smoking is occurring between the twins. Alternately and independently, one twin smoked a nicotine-free cigarette, then the second twin smoked a nicotine-containing cigarette. The procedure enabled the investigators to study the migration of nicotine and carbon monoxide from one twin to the other. Salivary determination provided a noninvasive method of measuring cross circulation in conjoined twins. Measurements of salivary nicotine, however, indicated that, although the nicotine levels rose following smoking, there was relatively little transfer from one twin to the other through the circulation.
Collapse
|
19
|
|