Are two heads really better than one?: Halakhic issues relating to conjoined twins and a two-headed person.

Abstract

Conjoined twins are identical twins whose bodies are joined or do not fully separate in utero. They can be joined along virtually any part of the body and are categorized by the specific point of connection, such as the chest, abdomen, back, or head, and have been known to exist since antiquity.1 In the modern era, it has become possible to successfully separate conjoined twins, depending on the nature of the shared vital organs. Such procedures, which invariably attract media attention, are among the most complex in the surgical arsenal and require a concert of interdisciplinary services. These cases often create correspondingly complex ethical dilemmas.2 (from Introduction)