A Question About "Anencephaly" concerning Donation

QUESTION: I have read a great deal lately about the use of babies born
without heads, for organ donations. There seems to be a discussion that I
can't understand. If they are born this way, aren't they dead anyway? It
would be a good idea to give some other child a chance by using the organs
from the dead child. Why don't they just do it?
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ANSWER: A clarification or two first. These babies are born with a
malformation called "anencephaly" or congenital absence of the brain. A head
is present, though misshapen and shrunken. The part of the brain which
controls respiration and basic functions, the brain stem, is also present.
While the brain stem functions, the child can not be pronounced "brain dead,"
and until brain death occurs, no organ donations can be recovered. However,
the organs that could be used as donor organs, such as the liver, heart and
kidneys, must be kept alive if they are to be used, and the procedures
necessary for this may also give life to the brain stem. The problem of
proper clinical management of these dying babies still has not been solved.
The ethical problems of treating these children as different from other
seriously ill newborns also warrants careful consideration and study. I agree
with you, I too would like to see a way in which these organs could be used,
but the rights of all, even these doomed babies, must be respected.