topic My Sister's Keeper in Community Spirit

My Sister's Keeper

the_bob_delusion — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 01:47:53 GMT

Do you think it's morally or ethically right for the parents to conceive a child soley for the purpose of using him/her as a donor for another child?

Is it also morally or ethically right to select a specific characteristics of genetics that you want for a child you want to conceive(instead of say head colour or IQ, you selected out one with a specific genetics.)?

Do parents have the right to force a child to help another person given there will be some suffering invovled?

What would you do if it was you?

Re: My Sister's Keeper

*crikey*mate* — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 01:59:44 GMT

Interesting topic.

Morals and ethics are subjective values and formed by a person's environment, class, culture, socioeconomic status, gender (to some extent) and their intrapersonal variables.

So it's a bit difficult to determine if something is morally or ethically wrong in a generalized way.

For example, some believe that to break the law is immoral &/or unethical.

It is illegal for a hungry pauper to steal food for his child who has not eaten for several days.

It is illegal for a homeless person to sleep on the streets or under a bridge.

Re: My Sister's Keeper

dalyssmum — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 03:22:52 GMT

My (then) 7 year old daughter very excitedly skipped to the operating theatre to donate bone marrow for her (then) 3 year old brother. Hardly forced. No suffering.

My sisters keeper was fiction.

Re: My Sister's Keeper

ashjoma — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 04:21:19 GMT

I don't think there is any issue - the new child will still be loved and accepted no matter what

parents are showing their love by doing anything possible to try and save their ailing child.

and it is their business anyway

Re: My Sister's Keeper

cherry*135 — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 04:34:32 GMT

Do you think it's morally or ethically right for the parents to conceive a child soley for the purpose of using him/her as a donor for another child?

Do parents have the right to force a child to help another person given there will be some suffering invovled?

I knew a lady whose husband had a genetic condition (it didn't affect his health) and for their second child (girl, 1st one was a boy) they used genetic selection (or whatever it is called) to ensure their genetic condition wasn't passed on to the baby.

I don't see anything wrong with that.

Re: My Sister's Keeper

the_bob_delusion — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 08:02:36 GMT

My (then) 7 year old daughter very excitedly skipped to the operating theatre to donate bone marrow for her (then) 3 year old brother. Hardly forced. No suffering.

My sisters keeper was fiction.

a 7yr old obviously cannot make an informed decision. No suffering??? I doubt it.

I'm applying the reasoning of the book to real life.

Re: My Sister's Keeper

the_bob_delusion — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 08:06:53 GMT

I don't think there is any issue - the new child will still be loved and accepted no matter what

parents are showing their love by doing anything possible to try and save their ailing child.

and it is their business anyway

Your view is essentially saying do whatever it takes medically, ethical or not to save your child. i.e tempering with nature, genetics.

Your also challenging whether a couple can have a child other than the traditional reasons of love but to use her.

Re: My Sister's Keeper

chinchuckchick — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 08:17:19 GMT

We have 2 children and while I wouldn't take a kidney off either of them to give to the other ( if they were over 18 it could be their choice) but in regard to bone marrow I would make the decision. It isn't a painless process though.

Re: My Sister's Keeper

darksideofthemoon — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 08:42:35 GMT

My sisters keeper was fiction.

No, actually it was called 'My Brother's Keeper' and had nothing to do with this subject.

I don't know bob, I have thought about it, but I just cannot know.

I think there would have to be a bonding between parents and both children for it to be a happy outcome.

If one child was made to feel like an 'organ part' and the other like a needy reliant then it would be dreadful,

but it could be that both children would feel very special to the parents that one could save the other...

I just don't know... thankfully I have never been there.

Re: My Sister's Keeper

crystal**flake — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 08:47:27 GMT

I don't like it.

Re: My Sister's Keeper

mugssy65 — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 08:51:18 GMT

The movie my sisters keeper was based on a book by the same name, the ending of the book was worse than the movie.

I have a daughter with kidney problems and if it comes to it any of our family will willingly give her one of ours!

Re: My Sister's Keeper

azureline** — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 09:15:06 GMT

http://www.jodipicoult.com.au/mysisterskeeper.html

Re: My Sister's Keeper

dalyssmum — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 12:02:42 GMT

a 7yr old obviously cannot make an informed decision. No suffering??? I doubt it.

Yep, no suffering. Actually she was soooooo happy after the procedure, even have photos of her with the biggest smile on her face, pleased as punch she was. Sorry if that doesn't work into your theoretical scenario.

Re: My Sister's Keeper

dalyssmum — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 12:06:21 GMT

I do know people who conceived a baby in the hope that the baby would be a bone marrow match. The baby wasn't a match but the baby was very much loved and provided great joy to all members of the family.

Re: My Sister's Keeper

crystal**flake — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 12:10:23 GMT

We don't really know what goes on down deep of ones soul if it doesn't work.

Re: My Sister's Keeper

i-once-was-bump — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 13:18:02 GMT

.

Yep, no suffering. Actually she was soooooo happy after the procedure, even have photos of her with the biggest smile on her face, pleased as punch she was. Sorry if that doesn't work into your theoretical scenario.

.

You already had the 7 year old so you didn't have to have another child so you were spared that decision but you (and your husband?) still had to make a decision most parents hope they will never have to make. I think that the decision to have the 7 year old donate bone marrow to the 3 year old is a decision that can only be made within the family at the time the issue arises.

Who knows what any of us would do until we are faced with such a situation.

Re: My Sister's Keeper

chinchuckchick — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 15:04:08 GMT

Dalysmum, I would do the same as you if one of our children was a match for each other. However, knowing 2 people who have donated I doubt that the process is pain free. All the stuff beforehand is what hurts.

your daughter at 7 most righteously felt proud of what she had done

Re: My Sister's Keeper

darksideofthemoon — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 19:25:48 GMT

The movie my sisters keeper was based on a book by the same name, the ending of the book was worse than the movie.

I have a daughter with kidney problems and if it comes to it any of our family will willingly give her one of ours!

Oh okay mugsy 🙂

Kidney problems must be very distressing for everyone and yes, I can well imagine parting with a kidney for a loved one.

Re: My Sister's Keeper

darksideofthemoon — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 19:29:45 GMT

http://www.jodipicoult.com.au/mysisterskeeper.html

Having read your post azure, it makes me feel sick... and under those circumstances I really have to feel it is immoral in every sense of the word...

That brings out the side of me that feels that if a child has a threatening illness then maybe one has to learn to accept they could die and allow that to be the end of the efforts.

To bring another child into the world to use for 'spare parts' is criminal... So there you go, you have illicited an opinion from me 🙂

Re: My Sister's Keeper

margomeoz — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 21:29:04 GMT

I don't think it possible for anyone to have a true opinion unless they are in the position of having to go through with the option of needing a doner for a child they already have.

It's easy to take the moral high ground when you don't have to choose between life and death of a child you love.

I think the only right or wrong in it is for the people having to make the decision should feel.