Should selecting saviour siblings be banned?

Journal of Medical Ethics

Volumn 30, Issue 6, 2004, Pages 533-537

  Sheldon, S ^a   Wilkinson, S ^a  

^a KEELE UNIVERSITY   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ARTICLE; CHILD WELFARE; EMBRYO; GENETIC SELECTION; HUMAN; LIVING DONOR; MEDICAL ETHICS; PREIMPLANTATION EMBRYO; PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE; SIBLING; TISSUE TYPING;

GENETICS AND REPRODUCTION;

CHILD; CHILD ADVOCACY; DONOR SELECTION; EMBRYO TRANSFER; ETHICAL ANALYSIS; ETHICS, CLINICAL; FEMALE; HUMANS; INFANT; MALE; MORALS; SIBLINGS; TISSUE DONORS;

EID: 11144276500     PISSN: 03066800     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1136/jme.2003.004150     Document Type: Article

References (26)

1. Spriggs M, Savulescu J. "Saviour siblings". J Med Ethics 2002;28:289.
2. Davies J-A, "Designer baby goes ahead"., The Age 12 March 2003, www.theage.com.au/articles 2003/03/11/1047144972401.html.
3. BBC News. Hashmi decision sparks ethics row, 22 February 2002, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1836827.stm.
4. BBC News. Genetics storm girl "responding well", 19 October 2002, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/979884.stm.
5. This term is taken from Spriggs M. Savulescu J. "Saviour siblings". J Med Ethics 2002;28:289.
6. Robertson JA, Kahn JP, Wagner JE. Conception to obtain hematopoietic stem cells. Hastings Cent Rep 2002;32:34-40.
7. R (Quintavalle) v Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority [2003] EWHC 2785 (Admin).
8. R (Quintavalle) v Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority [2003] EWCA Civ 667.
9. Glover J. Quoted in: BBC News. Doctor plans "designer baby" clinic. 11 December 2001, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1702854.stm.
10. Quintavalle J. Quoted in: BBC News. Doctor plans "designer baby" clinic. 11 December 2001, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1702854.stm
11. Nathanson V. Quoted in: BBC News. Baby created to save older sister. 4 October 2000, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1702854.stm.
12. Winston R. Quoted in: BBC News. Go-ahead for "designer babies". 13 December 2001, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1706926.stm.
13. Boyle R, Savulescu J. Ethics of using preimplantation genetic diagnosis to select a stem cell donor for an existing person. BMJ 2001;323:1240-3, 1241.
14. Harris J. The Value of Life. London: Routledge, 1985:143.
15. Attributed to Josephine Quintavalle by BBC News. Pro-life challenge to embryo testing, 12 July 2002, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2125482.stm.
16. This is party because contesting this would take us too far from the issue at hand and into very complex territory, and party because we don't need to contest it to undermine the slippery slope argument.
17. Under s. 13, Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, we are directed that: "A woman shall not be provided with treatment services unless account has been taken of the welfare of any child who may be born as a result of the treatment (including the need of that child for father), and of any other child who may be affected by the birth." It should be noted here that this section also explicitly invites us to consider the welfare of existing children. Whilst it is probable that the architects of the 1990 Act were thinking here of the prevention of harm rather than the according of benefits to existing children the wording of the law is clearly broad enough also to include the latter. This was recognised by the Court of Appeal in its consideration of the Hashmi case, see the judgment of Mance LJ at 133.
18. Preimplantation donor selection [editorial]. Lancet 2001;358:1195.
19. This possibility was specifically denied by both the Hashmis and the Whitakers, who claimed that they wanted another child in any case.
20. These kinds of arguments are routinely advanced by the courts in allowing parents to consent to allow one sibling to act as a donor to another. Such donation is held to be in the donor's best interests, notwithstanding the pain and physical risks associated with the procedure, because of the donor's interest in a continued relationship with his or her sibling. Strunk v Strunk (1969) 445 SW 2d 145 (Ky CA).
21. We use terms like "happy" and "unhappy" here as a shorthand for quality of life (as perceived from the perspective of the person living that life).
22. Sheldon S, Wilkinson S. Termination of pregnancy for reason of foetal disability: are there grounds for a special exception in law? Med Law Rev 2001;9:85-109.
23. Kuhse H, Singer P. Should the Baby Live?. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1985:158.
24. Glover J. Fertility and the Family: the Glover Report on reproductive technologies to the European Commission. London: Fourth Estate, 1989, 129. See also reference 27.
25. Glover J. Causing Death and Saving Lives. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1977:148.
26. Sheldon S, Wilkinson S. Termination of pregnancy for reason of foetal disability: are there grounds for a special exception in law? Med Law Rev 2001;9:85-109.