Surgery for Anencephalic Infant

The Journal of the Medical Association of Georgia 100(2) has a brief article defending surgery (to fix a hiaral hernia) for an 11-month old anencephalic infant. His mother had been caring for him at home.  Surgery was performed. The authors defend this along the lines of Truog's 2010 NEJM argument defending futile treatment on grounds of benefit to parents not child. 

I do need to think more about the idea of justifying interventions on the basis of some benefit to someone OTHER THAN the patient.  I wish Truog or someone would point to some analogies.  It seems very unusual to justify intervention on person A for the benefit of person B. 



It seems unlike clinical medicine and more like research -- where the subject may not benefit but may help develop science for the benefit of society.