Inside the ethics committee. 2/4, Organ donation and newborn babies.

Radio documentary presented by Joan Bakewell about ethical dilemmas, discussed with the help of a panel. The programme discusses issues around organ transplantation and newborn babies. Over the years views on who can receive and who can donate have changed. The programme looks at when the parents of a dying child want to donate that child's organs after death. The story of a couple who were expecting twins is told. Following scans it is discovered there is the major abnormality of anencephaly with one of the unborn twins. The prognosis for the condition is bleak with the likelihood of the baby surviving only hours or minutes following birth. Options included termination or continuing the pregnancy of both twins. Both options had risks of complications, as well as the psychological impact. The couple decide to go through with the pregnancy of both twins. Panellists Susan Bewley, Professor of Complex Obstetrics at Kings College London and John Wyatt, Professor Emeritus of Ethics & Perinatology at University College London, discuss the risks involved and the growing number of people who wish to continue their pregnancies. The psychological impact on the parents is also discussed. The story continues with the contentious issue of donating organs of the non-surviving twin. The decision goes before the UK Donation Ethics Committee. The panel is joined by Bobby Fasides, Professor of Clinical & Biomedical Ethics at Brighton and Sussex Medical School. She describes the criteria used in decision making and there is a discussion of the ethical issues of this case. The panel further discuss the ethical issues and the story concludes with the couple given the go ahead to donate their child's organs and the subsequent birth.