Siamese twin pose moral dilemma

Medical and legal teams in Britain are facing a moral dilemma over the future of Siamese conjoined twin babies who share the same heart and lungs.

A judge, Robert Johnson, has ruled that the girls should be separated, even though the operation will kill at least one of them.

The judge said medical evidence showed that if surgeons did not operate, both girls would die because of the strain on the shared organs.

The parents, who are represented by a government lawyer, the Official Solicitor, oppose the separation because it would mean making a decision about which of the girls should die.

Their solicitor says an appeal is being considered.

Surgeons say they won't operate until the legal process is exhausted.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service