The courier-index., 1917-07-27
DEFORMED BABIES
AWAITING DEATH
WITH PERMISSION OF PARENTS.
CHICAGO SURGEON, DECLINES
TO OPERATE UPON HOPE
LESS CASES,

Chicago, ILL.,, July 24.-The hope
lessly deformed daughter of William
and Eva Meter, born at a North Side
hospital yesterday, died this after
noon after DR.. Harry Haiselden re-
fused to perform surgical operation
which would have saved its life.
The case parallels that of Baby
Bo1linger," who was attended by the
same physician and allowed to die
under similar circumstances more
than year ago.
Dr. Haiselden examined the infant
and decided its deformity was of such
character that would be best to let
it die. The parents of the Meter
child agreed with the doctor.
The baby was fed regularly until
death relieved it's sufferings. Many
doctors and nurses visited the hospi-
tai today to see the baby.
DR.. Haiselden,y who startled the
country when he decreed that Baby
Bollinger should be allowed to die
when an operation would have pro-
longed it's life, is today permitting
two other defective babies to die, he
announced this afternoon.
"Some day people will wonder how
there should be any criticism of such
a course he said.
In addition to the Meter baby,
which was born with deformed neck,
no skull bone and malformed,- DR..
Haiselden told of two other cases.
"The first of the other babies is 5
months old, born to family named
Martys, living on North Springfield
avenue" he said. He was brought to
me month ago, paralyzed and with
the head incurably affected. BY OPP
Grating, 1 could have prolonged the
life for year or so. But | explained
matters to the parents and they are
willing to wait for death.
The third baby is named Paul
Haidza. He is 3 months old and his
head is misshapen and defective and
there is malady that makes breath
ing an agony for the infant. l am
prescribing enough paregoric to keep
it drugged until death ends it all.
Il feel that l am doing the great
est service to humanity possible in
these cases. It is better than expert
menting with knife for my own
satisfaction"
Many prominent persons voiced
their approval of Haiselden's deci-
sion.
Mrs. Samuel Meter, grandmother
of the Meter baby. called up DR.. HAS
eden today and added her permission
to use his own judgment about the
baby's life. The grandmother is her
self the mother of a baby IL days
old.
CDR. Haiselden is absolutely right
said Mrs. Charlotte Rhodus, vice
president of the woman's party OF
Cook county. III It were my own
child would want the same thing
done. 1t would be a crime to let such
deformed infant survive
eff the life of this imbecile. a de-
formed little babe Of innocence were
spared or prolonged the life of the
mother would be endangered" said
Rev. Johnston Meyers of Emmanuel
Baptist Church. "The child would be
an immediate burden to the mother
and it might cost her life"
DR.. Isaac A. Apt, noted baby doc
tor, said that when there is rea-
sonable hope of saving baby-even
defective baby-it should be saved
eff it's hopelessly deformed, that's
another question" said the doctor
"Such cases cannot be handled as
general propositions. They must be
solved as individual cases.
Health Commissioner Robertson
this afternoon started an investigation
of the Meter baby's death.