My sister's keeper ethical issues
Outline:
Kate Fitzgerald is a 16 year old who was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia at 2 years old. She has an older brother, Jesse, but he is not a genetic match for a bone marrow transplant and has never been able to forgive himself for that. Doctors suggested that her parents scientifically engineer another child “ a Savior Sibling” to ensure a bone marrow match for Kate. Kate’s parents, Sara and Brian, eagerly pursued having another child through In vitro fertilization and Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis in order to try and save Kate’s life. From the moment Anna was born she was subjected to multiple procedures in order to help treat her sister.
Regardless of all of the treatments, Kate at 16, is progressively getting weaker and treatments are no longer effective. She wishes to not be treated any longer and is ready to “let go” but doesn’t know how to tell her family. The doctors state that a kidney transplant is Kate’s only chance for survival. Her parents push Anna to donate, even though there are definite long-term consequences for Anna if she only has one kidney. Unable to convince her parents that she does not want to donate her kidney to her sister, she hires a lawyer to sue for medical emancipation. After Anna wins the case, her and her lawyer get into a serious car accident which leaves Anna with severe brain damage. Campbell, Anna 's lawyer and court appointed power of attorney, gives doctors permission to do the organ transplant. This whole situation is emotionally devastating for the entire family.
Ethical Questions:
1. Should the doctor have recommended the Fitzgerald’s to have another child in order to have a bone marrow match for a living child?
a. What is Acute Promyeloctic Leukemia (APL)?
b. APL symptoms and treatment
c. “Savior Siblings” i. Role of “Savior Siblings”
a. In vitro fertilization (IVF) and Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) i. Is PGD ethical in all cases? (prevent miscarriages, prevent inheritable
Kate Fitzgerald is a 16 year old who was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia at 2 years old. She has an older brother, Jesse, but he is not a genetic match for a bone marrow transplant and has never been able to forgive himself for that. Doctors suggested that her parents scientifically engineer another child “ a Savior Sibling” to ensure a bone marrow match for Kate. Kate’s parents, Sara and Brian, eagerly pursued having another child through In vitro fertilization and Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis in order to try and save Kate’s life. From the moment Anna was born she was subjected to multiple procedures in order to help treat her sister.
Regardless of all of the treatments, Kate at 16, is progressively getting weaker and treatments are no longer effective. She wishes to not be treated any longer and is ready to “let go” but doesn’t know how to tell her family. The doctors state that a kidney transplant is Kate’s only chance for survival. Her parents push Anna to donate, even though there are definite long-term consequences for Anna if she only has one kidney. Unable to convince her parents that she does not want to donate her kidney to her sister, she hires a lawyer to sue for medical emancipation. After Anna wins the case, her and her lawyer get into a serious car accident which leaves Anna with severe brain damage. Campbell, Anna 's lawyer and court appointed power of attorney, gives doctors permission to do the organ transplant. This whole situation is emotionally devastating for the entire family.
Ethical Questions:
1. Should the doctor have recommended the Fitzgerald’s to have another child in order to have a bone marrow match for a living child?
a. What is Acute Promyeloctic Leukemia (APL)?
b. APL symptoms and treatment
c. “Savior Siblings” i. Role of “Savior Siblings”
a. In vitro fertilization (IVF) and Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) i. Is PGD ethical in all cases? (prevent miscarriages, prevent inheritable