I saw this movie years ago called “The Cardinal” with Thomas Tryon about the rise of a parish priest to the position of cardinal. It was a wonderful movie. In the movie, he has a sister who is very promiscuous and becomes pregnant. When it is time for her to give birth, something goes wrong and there is a situation that in order to save her life, they will have to kill the baby. I don’t remember all the details of the medical situation, but his sister is unconscious and cannot make the decision so it is left up to him (their parents are dead).
He tells the doctors not to kill the baby even though it will mean the certain death of his sister. He tells the doctors, “If my sister dies, it is an act of God. If the baby dies, it is because of my actions.” His sister does, indeed, die and the baby lives. But the decision does not come without a price. He lives with a great deal of guilt. But later in the movie, they show the little baby grown up, a girl, and she’s beautiful and alive, and he knows that he made the right call. I know it’s only a movie, but I’ve never forgotten that scenario and have always felt that it is best to leave these choices up to God. Some may disagree.
Right decision, no matter who is in charge. The moment the killing of the baby is a separate act and not a side effect of a life saving effort, it cannot be excused.