My Sister's Keeper

[the_bob_delusion]

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?

[*crikey*mate*]

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.

[dalyssmum]

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.

[ashjoma]

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

[cherry*135]

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?

 NO

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.)?

NO

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

NO

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.

[the_bob_delusion]

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. 

[the_bob_delusion]

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. 

[chinchuckchick]

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.

[darksideofthemoon]

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.

[crystal**flake]

I don't like it.