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How Do Baby Teresa Benefit Other Children

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Is it wrong to take Baby Teresa's life so she can donate her organs to others in need even though she can only live for a few days? Although some might argue that it is morally wrong to take an innocent person's life, she could be saving many others' lives by donating her organs. I will be defending the Benefits Argument in this paper, and I will argue that transplanting the organs will indeed benefit other children. I will first present a general overview of the Baby Teresa case, and then I will present the facts to my Benefits Argument. I will then present an opposing argument, how someone would attack my views, and then I will defend my argument from the objection. Finally, in the conclusion I will give certain highlights and …show more content…

Baby Teresa died 9 days after her birth and because her organs were so badly deteriorated, it was too late for other children because her organs could not be transplanted. (Rachels, pg. 1-2)

My argument for the transplant of her organs is the Benefits Argument. My view is that because Baby Teresa was going to die soon and the transplant would not cause her pain because her brain is missing, her organs were doing her no good. She would not be able to have a life even if she did survive, carry on any activities, have thoughts, feelings, and relations with other people. In contrast, if she would gain from keeping her life, then transplanting her organs would be wrong. My argument is as follows: Since the transplant can benefit someone without harming others, we ought to do so. The organs would certainly benefit others without harming Baby Teresa, so therefore we should take her organs. This argument is sound because the premises are true and the conclusion logically follows the premise. It is important that the intention of the transplant is to benefit other children; otherwise taking Baby Teresa's life would be wrong. (Rachels, pg. 3)

An objection to my argument would be that although we assume that Baby Teresa's organs can help benefit others, what if it cannot? My Benefits Argument will show to be invalid if her organs or blood type did not match any recipients. It is unlikely that her organs or blood type do not match, but there is that possibility.

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