by Elaine Englehardt

Humanities/Philosophy

An eighteen year-old couple, Joan and Bert, have very recently had a severely deformed infant born to them. Bert is a student in one of your classes. He confides his problems to you. Neither he nor Joan is educated nor gainfully employed. Also, they have no insurance.

The doctor tells them that the child could be given an operation that would allow it to live for a maximum of two years, or they can let the child die a natural death without the aid of an operation or life support equipment.

Neither Joan nor Bert have a belief in God, and Bert confides that both have lived a "wild" life style. He says he was unable to remain faithful to Joan during her pregnancy, but doesn't think she is aware of this. He really isn't sure if he and Joan are interested in staying married, let alone being parents of a severely deformed infant.

They are trying to decide whether to give consent for the operation on their baby.

Questions:

How should you advise Bert?

Should you ask to talk to Joan to hear her side of the story?