New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-17
DEFECTIVE BABY
ALLOWED TO DIE
Chicago Surgeon Decides
Not to Save Child as
Burden to World.

Chicago, Nov. l6.-Has man right
to put detectives out of the world?
Members of the Illinois Humane So
ciety took the affirmative side OF this
question to-day in the case Of four
year-old baby boy at the German
American Hospital. The boy is de-
fective and in few days will probably
die. He could be saved. but no helping
hand has been extended TO him. Even
his mother has bade him goodby.
A ballot to determine whether to at
tempt to save the life of the sub
normal infant or whether by inert to
let the child die. resulted in death
sentence for the little one.
The infants mother, told that an op-
Grafton might save the child's life, al
though no known human intelligence
could promise any mental development
for the babe, wept and agreed TO abide
by the judgment of the physicians. or
a score OF hospital nurses consulted,
one alone voted for the life of the
child. The child was still alive to
night. but authorities at the hospital
said it would probably not live through
another twenty-four hours.
DR.. II. J. Haiselden, the attending
surgeon, has taken all responsibility.
BY operating, the physician says,
he could save the child's life, but since
the parents have left the matter to HIM
he has decided that the boy shall not
add his weight to the already large
burden of detectives in the world.
The little boys physical flaws would
undoubtedly make him an invalid dur
ing his first year and probably y de-
fective later, II he were allowed 10 live,
DR.. Haiselden says.
T'm doing what the parents nave
allowed me TO do" the doctor adds,
"and what 1t would take pretty stif
argument TO keep me from dong. J. m
allowing nature TO take her course with
the child. We are feeding II some. ne
child is sensible only TO discomfort
There il no brain development TO regis
ter suffering, and pretty soon nature
will eradicate her mistake.
at is a question of ethics. WINE
we all know physicians do not allow
monstrosities 10 live. the line must De
drawn somewhere. have drawn the
line in this case. The child could nave
been saved as one more idlotlc de-
fective. Detectives are PRONE ~
would reproduce its KIND and theso
initial deformities would nave become
msgnified and multiplied.
MANY say arbitrarily that life shoula
Le nregeryed. no matter what the cost
hut cannot see the argument IN tne
vast debt which would accrue IN lnsu-
tntions were il followed. ] consider this
favor 10 the race. What | am DONG
baa been done many times but quietIy'
N.ny things 20 on in the medical Dusl, ,
80 which are done solely for good
mt which might be condemned Dy SO,
called moralists and self-named soc'ai
saviOrs." tI,lI
Mis- lane Adams, the head OF hun
Uouse when she heard Of the decision
not 10 save the baby, demanded; A..
"Wbat right has this doctor TO take
q human life? No human being has q
right 10 take the life Of another, whetn-
er defective or not. How do we kho"
Who is defective and who Is hot' es
necially little baby? Every beng Is
horn into this world with the inherent
right 10 have a chance 70 i've.
"I do not know this physician Dut ~
vould make no difference IL he were
the greatest in the world, and all ,he
other physicians agreed with him. the
letting OF that baby die when Its ne
could be saved is crime against the
race. instead Of the benefaction which
he claims.
81 am sorry 10 hear that the law does
ant ,,ovide an avenue for an extension
~ humanity 20 this little, defenceless
nil. in the scientific focus Of great
bnsnitsl There should be such law.
The operation, which, I understand, is
only q minor one, certainly should be
performed"