Have any of you read or heard of this book?
My Sister's Keeper
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Sister's_Keeper
Anna came into the world by in vitro fertilization so that she would be a genetic match for her older sister Kate, who was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia when she was 2 years old. When Anna was born, her cord blood was donated to her sister, but when the leukemia returned she then had to donate blood and bone marrow. When Kate's kidneys fail Anna is expected to donate a kidney to save her sister, but she hires a lawyer to be medically emancipated from her parents and gain the right to make the decision for herself. Her lawyer, Campbell Alexander, works for her pro bono.
I realize that I could ask this in the books/literature section, but there are spiritual/ethical issues involved.
I am not saying how I feel one way or the other, so please don't attack me.
If you have read it, what are your thoughts?
Glitter and cj, I feel as you do. I am still reading, but it disturbs me that the girl feels "invisible," as if her parents only want her to be "her sister's keeper."
- Johnny
nope
- glittergirl
No, I haven't read it, but from what I read, I think it is a huge violation on the part of the parents to bring a child into the world simply to put such a huge responsibility on her shoulders.
- cj_justme
I've read it. It was a fascinating book that made me question how I really felt about those issues. Anna was a human being, just like her sister, who had her own rights. She should have been consulted about the things she had to go through. I believe if she had been given the choice, the love for her sister would have won out and she would have been glad to do whatever was necessary to save her. But I have sympathy for her because she was never given the choice. She felt like nothing but a pawn...a means to an end, just born to save her sister. Even though I would personally be willing to do anything to save a member of my family, I can understand her feelings.
- sarah.campbell81
I have ot read it but having read the notes i agree with the answers provided, i do not think it is right to give birth to clone blood and marrow to donate to another child. We are here for a reason, not just to help another to live. Imagine your mum telling you that you were not born because of the desire to bear a child or even a unplanned but happy suprise but simply "to keep your sister alive". I would like details on how to get hold of this so i will be in touch soon x x
- Steven Ring
By this response, I do not mean to attack anyone, only to state and explain what I think about this general issue.
I do no agree with fertilization outside the human body, (IVF). I do not even consider human IVF, or anything based upon IVF, or anything involving pre-fertilization genetic modification as acceptable science. I think all these things are fundamentally unethical and against the long-term public interest.
Amongst my most grave ethical concerns about IVF and human genetic manipulation are the following:
- The risk of introducing damaged genes into our gene pool with no realistic way to 'fix' any genetic problem we introduce either now or later, in future generations.
- Psychological damage done to individuals produced by some forms of IVF where those individuals cannot establish a major aspect of their true identity, or where their health or their ability to bear children is impacted by these procedures.
- For me, the sanctity of human life begins at conception and IVF techniques are not able to maintain that, putting IVF practitioners into a 'playing god' scenario which is unacceptable to me on faith grounds.
- It is a gross infringement of a person's personal rights, dignity and liberty to have their genetic make-up tampered with in any way.
This is not a complete list! A number of my concerns relate directly to the predicament of the girl you mentioned in your question.
Leukemia — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, causes, risk factors, treatment of this blood-related cancer.
Orignal From: Have any of you read or heard of this book?
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