Letters: Pregnant with moral dilemmas

Sir: My husband's identical twin died at birth. Some years ago I asked him whether he had ever felt the loss, and he said it had never bothered him at all. I have known a number of other surviving twins with similar reactions, who show no sign of emotional damage.

Before we start assuring the sad mother who chose to abort a twin that the survivor will inevitably be traumatised, we need better data. Anecdotal evidence, however poignant, is not enough. Only a study of surviving twins compared with other children could provide answers as to what extent and to what degree the problem may exist.

JEAN ROBINSON

Oxford