Playing God?

We as people (and we Americans especially; I'll admit to that) have a tendency to take the role of God in many ways. I will leave most of the debates along the way-side because I don't feel like a debate today (besides, I'm too sleepy and I hate to lose). I do, however, feel like a good rant.

I just heard about little Junjie, the 2 month old Chinese boy who was born with three arms. I came across this information just as doctors were annoucing that the surgery removing the third arm was a success. I scanned the article and watched the film clip ( I recommend you do to so you can see what I mean) and I felt a twinge....then I read the end of the article that stated:

Junjie's case was especially rare because both left arms were almost equally well developed. He said doctors decided to remove the one closest to the chest because it did not fully extend.

Read that again. Yep, that's what I had noticed in the clip. The third arm was "equally well developed"; you can see him, clearly, flailing all three arms about. So answer me this, why was it removed? Why was this adorable little 2 month old put through major surgery?

Have we, as a species, become so shallow that we will risk this child's death in order to make him conform? Am I the only one having visions of Brave New World come to life?