| Separating conjoined twins: a medical and criminal law dilemma. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20329459 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Surgical separation of conjoined twins that results in the death of one of the twins raises complex moral, ethical and legal issues. Of particular concern is the potential for homicide charges against doctors. In two recent cases, one in England and one in Queensland, judges declared the surgery to be lawful but the legal reasoning employed is problematical and may be difficult to apply to future conjoined twins cases, such as infant twins where one is not fully developed, or where it is proposed to separate adult twins. A determination of the threshold issue of whether there are two individual persons capable of being killed may require a reconsideration of existing legal definitions and statutory provisions. Similarly, the excuses and justifications for homicide may need to be clarified or reviewed in the context of separation of conjoined twins. |
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Authors:
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Colleen Davis |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Legal Cases |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of law and medicine Volume: 17 ISSN: 1320-159X ISO Abbreviation: J Law Med Publication Date: 2010 Feb |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-03-24 Completed Date: 2010-05-04 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9431853 Medline TA: J Law Med Country: Australia |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 594-607 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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School of Law, Griffith University. Colleen.Davis@griffith.edu.au |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Australia Criminal Law England Humans Surgical Procedures, Operative / ethics*, legislation & jurisprudence* Twins, Conjoined / surgery* |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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