Philosophy is a study of morality, ethical reasoning, and logic. Science is mainly a means to secure health, provide treatments, solve medical issues, and ultimately allow the prosperity of human lives. The two fields sometimes bump heads because science does not always consider morality, and morality is not always an efficient way of modernizing science.
Savior siblings are those who are conceived selectively and methodically as an organ or cell donor to an already existing sibling suffering from a life-threatening disease. Their role is to be a body of “spare parts,” such as organs, bone marrow, or cells for their siblings to help them live through their fatal disease. The major ethical concern is that a savior child is born not from the love of his or her parents, but in lieu of a third party who is to benefit from their existence. They are treated like goods that can be used to save someone else’s life instead of receiving the care and love they deserve from their parents. When savior siblings discover why they were brought into the world, they may suffer psychological damage, such as feeling unworthy.
There are many names used to describe the roles of these children to downplay the ethical inappropriateness of the situation. One such term is “medicine babies.” This term creates an illusion that these babies are not real, living humans. It is a way to trick society into thinking that this concept is acceptable as long as it is medically beneficial. It makes the production of children seem entirely scientific, and does not consider the moral or emotional aspects. Even the newer term, "savior siblings," masks the ethical implications as an inherently noble cause.
The concept of savior siblings may come from the value that society puts on children's lives. This idea is conveyed in quotes such as “Save the children” or “For the children” during times of crises or outbreak. There are more laws surrounding the protection and safety of children/minors than there are about any other age group, especially in the United States. Thus, there is such a willingness to save young lives, that we’re blinded by the destruction it may cause morally. Once a parent has a very sick child in their hands, they feel inclined to do everything in their power to save that child, even if it means losing their logic and empathy in the process. They may be so eager to save one child that they risk another.
This topic has received a lot of controversy over the years on its moral and legal standing, but there has been little to no federal governance towards it. Some state case laws such as Griswold v. Connecticut and Meyer v. Nebraska allow individuals the right to procreate with privacy on their reasons for doing so, as well as to establish a family and raise children. However, the state does have the ability to intervene when there is child endangerment or neglect. These state laws along with the controversial aspect of the topic create barriers for people trying to fight the issue.
Resources and Take Action:
Bioethics Observatory. Bioethical Approach of “Medicine Babies” or Savior Siblings as Therapeutic Remedy for his Older Brother or Sister. April, 2018 https://bioethicsobservatory.org/2018/04/saviour-siblings-ethical-debate/13537/
Ethical, Legal, and Societal Implications of Biotechnology https://sites.lib.jmu.edu/elsi-biotech/reproductive-biotechnology/savior-siblings-and-cloning/
Strong, Kimberly. Savior Siblings, Parenting, and the Moral Valorization of Children. July, 2012 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1467-8519.2012.02001.x
Taylor-Sands, Michelle. Savior Siblings and Collective Family Interests. May, 2014
Film: My Sister’s Keeper, directed by: Nick Cassavetes (based on a true story)