is it right to create a child to save the life of another?

[wannaBe]

the embriology bill is to be debated by MP's.

here

One of the points being discussed is the ability to be able to create "savior" siblings.

Now I can totally understand the thinking behind this, especially from a parent's point of view, but I have to admit that the idea of this makes me very uncomfortable.

Is it right, after all, to create a child to save the life of another child? What happens if treatment is unsuccessful and the other child dies anyway? What impact must that have on the created child, to find out that they were created to save the life of their sibling? a sibling that has possibly died? And that many other embrios might have been discarded in order to find that one perfect one? and that if they had not had the right tissue type they wouldn't be there?

discuss..

Good post Sweeney.

It depends on the family

i'm not planning any more but coyuld and would embrace any children that came along, so yes i'd do it- and not just for life endangering cases: if they found stem cell research could solve ds1's and ds3's sn i'd probably grab the chance

but for someone like my sister who had / has severe pnd after 1 childs and loathes the idea of more, then no- the extra child must be wanted and the parents must be certain they can love that child as much as the others

Sweeney that sort of research is so new they would never say that to a person, especially in terms of mental illness.
They can however make sure the tissue is a match which, if it saves another childs life can't be bad.

I recomemnd you all read a book called 'spares' . It is a bit of a horror, and far from supporting my thoughts, but a brilliant book.

www.amazon.co.uk/Spares-Michael-Marshall-Smith/dp/0006512674/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=12105909 96&sr=1-1

If I had been born to save the life of another how would I feel about this?

What happens if even though i was born to save another the another dies anyhow - am I then not required?

or will i be worth something for just being me?

Sometimes we have to say goodbye....

I agree that as parents we would do anything to save the lives of our children.

But as parents are we really capable of rational thought on the matter? At a time when the difference between going through with having another child/not having another child is a matter of life or death for the existing child?

But having a child to save another isn?t a straightforward process. It involves having to undergo IVF and for the embrios to be screened before they are implanted. So what happens if you produce 10 eggs and embrios and none of them are a tissue match? Do you destroy them all and start again? How many embrios is it morally acceptable to destroy before you get the one you want?

This isn?t about having a child because you want a child, this is about having a child who will fulfil certain criteria, and destroying all others that do not.

So once you?ve gone through your 10 IVF attempts and destroyed 99 embrio?s, and you finally give birth do your savior child, how will you feel if the treatment doesn?t work? What pressure are you putting on that child to potentially keep providing blood, bone marrow, organs?

Is it even fair to give birth to a child to act as a doner to their sibling? Given that child will not be able to object for a considerable time?

I can absolutely see the thinking behind wanting, needing to do it, but it doesn?t make it right.

Wannabee, that is a question for anyone going through ivf. I think you can't have any idea unless you are in that situation and have the option. It won't happen to many of us, but if it does, who knows?

I know DevilWears but the point I wanted to make is that by selecing an embryo we are doing more than saving our other child's life, and we cannot control the consequences of that selection. And I don't think everyone is comfortable with that added responsibility.
I don't want to see a world where people are forced to select the "best" embryos, and were chidren's illnesses and deaths are considered the parent's fault for refusing to have another baby that would save the first.
WannaBe makes very good points, and iviKaty too.

No not at all.

And I'll say again, read that book I linked to, get it from the library, it is amazing.

I also changed my views on this after reading the Picoult book. If it would be a one-off, perhaps from cord blood, then OK but needing to constantly subject the "spare" child to invasive medical procedures for the sake of their sibling is not fair.

No one has the right to state a child should be born simply to help a sibling. No one.

So would you concieve naturally in the hope that child was a match? And if not maybe again, and again?

How is it different?

Riven, I haven't got an ill child. And if that is your position, I respect it. I just don't want that to be the option that society expects from all parents in your situation or similar.
I haven't made any sweeping statements. I have talked about my self, my mind, my heart, my conscience, my instinct and my reason.

Stem cell research is still in its infancy and AFAIK there is no reputable proven therapy as yet. That's why NHS hospitals generally won't take or store cord blood.

I'm uncomfortable with the idea of saviour siblings. It's creating a child with conditions. How do you explain 'we wanted you because you were the right tissue type but we threw away the other embryos'? And what happens if the elder child dies anyway?

I imagine if you have a very sick child you might feel differently, but people directly affected aren't necessarily the best ones to make decisions that affect wider society. Along the same philosophical lines as not allowing a victim's family to decide on sentencing in the criminal courts. (I am NOT comparing sick children to criminals, just saying the arguments against bias are the same.)

What seems to be the problem with 'discarded embryos'?

Is this an abortion debate in disguise?

If you are talking about saviour siblings, then no, not as far as I'm concerned. It's the 'we chose you because you were a match for existing ds/dd and if you hadn't been we'd have discarded you' that would bother me.

I have mixed feelings about this. But Rivens poat allowed me to see the other side.
it is not something I would do. but then i am lucky dd's sn is not life threatning,
look at your children. can you in all honesty say you wouldn't do everything in your powere to keep them alive,.

The thought of it actually repels me.
I am quite surprised how strongly I feel that this whole 'saviour sibling' thing is very wrong.