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What is a Savior Sibling?

  • donor sibling
  • a child who is created through assisted reproductive techniques in order to help an existing sibling who is sick with a disease that is often fatal.
  • Controversy: Are They Ethical?

Physical Effects

Assisted Reproduction

  • test tube in a lab
  • IVF (in-vitro fertilization)
  • PGD (preimplantation genetic diagnosis); commonly paired with HLA (human leucocyte antigen) typing
  • have different DNA
  • ensure that the savior sibling is a compatible donor and disease free.
  • savior siblings experience discomfort and face life-threatening conditions as they undergo operations and donations, such as in donating kidneys or bone marrow,
  • “bone marrow donation...involves a number of risks, including general anesthesia, infection, pain, discomfort, and risks associated with blood transfusion…” and “donating an organ involves even more physical risk...” (Lai 267).
  • face prolonged use and face repetitive procedures.
  • it is “... incoherent to...treat a sick, suffering child by bringing new suffering into the world” (Devolder 583)

The Controversy- Are They Ethical?

Arguments:

  • Slippery Slope Argument- theoretical base
  • Physical effects
  • Mental Effects and family relationships/dynamics
  • Are they ethical?- NO!

"Designer "Babies vs Savior Siblings

The Nash Case

  • both created by assisted reproductive techniques
  • different purposes
  • “Designer” babies are children who, through processes such as in-vitro fertilization and preimplantation genetic diagnosis, are specifically designed by doctors and parents to possess the traits the parents want their child to have (Sheldon et al. 534).
  • Savior siblings are children who are specifically designed with the intent of helping a sick child (Lai 261-262).
  • August 29, 2000 (Lai 261)
  • first successful use of savior siblings
  • Molly Nash- Fanconi anemia, a "...deadly genetic disorder characterized by failure of bone marrow production" (Lai 262)
  • Adam Nash- savior sibling
  • caused a lot of controversy: death of embryos, personal rights, treatment of Adam by parents.

Slippery Slope Argument

  • states that savior siblings will lead to an increase in "designer" babies.
  • savior siblings and "designer" babies- unethical and go against nature.
  • counterargument- different intentions, therefore not the same

Psychological effects and Family Dynamics

  • lack of stable family dynamic affects mental health
  • savior siblings and parents- once savior siblings understand that their purpose is to help their sick sibling, they might feel depressed and begin to doubt the genuineness of their parents’ love and care (Sheldon et al. 535-536)
  • savior siblings and sick siblings

-jealousy and hatred

- failure leading to guilt

- voluntary refusal

Conclusion

Savior Siblings:

Are They Ethical?

By: Ranya Elmaghariki

  • Due to the aforementioned reasons, savior siblings are not ethical.
  • Even if action is taken to ensure that savior siblings are ethical, there is a slim possibility that these measures could be successfully implemented due to the slippery slope argument and other negative effects.
  • Proposal: Enforce stricter regulation on what savior siblings can and can not do until their presence decreases
  • follow examples of other countries
  • more energy and money should be put to creating vaccinces and medicines

Works Cited

Devolder, K. "Preimplantation HLA Typing: Having Children

To Save Our Loved Ones."Journal Of Medical Ethics 31.10

(2005): 582-586. CINAHL with Full Text. Web. 3 Mar. 2014.

Lai, Amy T. Y. "To Be Or Not To Be My Sister's Keeper?." Journal

Of Legal Medicine 32.3 (2011): 261-293. Academic Search

Premier. Web. 9 Mar. 2014.

Sheldon, S., and S. Wilkinson. "Should Selecting Saviour

Siblings Be Banned?."Journal Of Medical Ethics 30.6

(2004): 533-537. Biomedical Reference Collection:

Comprehensive. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.

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