HUMAN MONSTER. - An individual presenting one or more anomalies such as to render it gravely aberrant from normality (v. TERATOLOGY). Human monsters are of interest to moral theology on two questions, one to be touched on only briefly, the other requiring a more thorough examination.
I. Right to life in the human monster
To the question whether it is lawful to diminish the chances of life or even to kill deformed newborns, the answer is negative, because to any human being, even one doubtfully living a human life, there applies the divine precept ne occidas, which protects the primary and fundamental right to life (v. ABORTION). Consequently, in monstrosities in which the existence of two living individuals is presumed, intervention that suppresses one of them is unlawful. This remains true even in cases in which the duplicity of persons is doubtful, as in the case of autosite and parasite. Only in cases in which the parasite is reduced to a mere mass or to a few limbs is amputation lawful, since the unity of the person of the human monster is certain.
II. Baptism of human monsters
On the basis of the CIC, can. 748, two cases must be distinguished: 1) simple human monsters may present doubts concerning the existence of human life, such as the acardiac monster. If human life is certain, Baptism is to be conferred absolutely; in doubt, however, Baptism must be conferred under the condition "if you are a man." The contrary opinion of some theologian or moralist who would wish acardiac monsters to be excluded from Baptism, because they lack organs essential to human life (cf. B. H. Merkelbach, op. cit. in bibl.) is not to be followed in practice. This should instead be done when the product of the birth consists of a formless fleshy mass (which moralists call a "mola"), although even here one must diligently observe first whether a true human fetus is not hidden within the fleshy mass. 2) Double and multiple monstrosities can give rise to the doubt whether it is a question of a single person or of several persons. If the human monsters have a doubled head and chest, with only the lower part of the body remaining common, the plurality of persons is clear and the individual components of the monstrous whole are to be baptized absolutely. If the human monsters have only the chest or the head doubled, the plurality is doubtful, and then one of the components is baptized absolutely, the others under condition. 3) Physicians and midwives and anyone who is aware by reason of office of the existence of a human monster in a particular family are bound by professional secrecy. Others, at least by the duty of charity, must not spread the news, since the displeasure that would come to the family is easily foreseeable.