The British Siamese twins case took a dramatic twist yesterday when the Court of Appeal was told that unviable and doomed-to-die Mary might be growing at the expense of her sister Jodie, whom doctors believe they can save.
The medical update came as the court decided in an unprecedented move to allow the Archbishop of Westminster, Dr Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, to tell the court in written submissions why he considered the "tragic and heart-rending" pairshould be allowed to die.
Three judges, who have confessed to sleepless nights over the life-and-death dilemma they have to rule on, also decided to allow the world to see drawings made from a photograph showing the full horror of the plight of month-old Mary and Jodie. They are joined at their lower abdomens, with their heads at the opposite ends of their merged bodies and their legs emerging at right anglesfrom each side.
The parents - devout Catholics - believe that separating the twins is "not God's will" and want nature to take its course, even if that means the loss ofboth children. They are appealing against a High Court decision last month giving permission for the operation to go ahead. Doctors say the operation could give Jodie a normal life, but will mean killing Mary, who has just a primitivebrain and lives only because she is attached to her "bright and alert" sister and relies on her heart and lung functions. Without an operation, both are expected to die within six months.
Mr Adrian Whitfield QC, appearing for the doctors, told a hushed and shocked court yesterday that Jodie was not growing as the surgeon treating her wouldexpect, while Mary - given no hope of survival - was "growing normally"