Saviour siblings in India: A reminder of our existing challenges and biases
Salik Ansari1, Harikeerthan Raghuram1, Anant Bhan1
1Sangath (Bhopal hub), 120, Deepak Society, Chuna Bhatti, Bhopal, 462016, INDIA.
Insights
Saviour siblings are conceived to provide life-saving biological materials for a sick child. While discussed in Western bioethics, their ethical implications in India remain underexplored.
Area of Science:
- Bioethics
- Reproductive Medicine
- Medical Genetics
Background:
- Saviour siblings are conceived to donate biological materials like cord blood, stem cells, or organs to save a sibling with a serious illness.
- Recent media reports highlight the birth of saviour babies in India, with the first in Gujarat (2020) and another in Maharashtra (2023).
Discussion:
- The ethical considerations surrounding saviour siblings are a significant topic in Western bioethical discussions.
- There is a notable lack of discourse on the ethical dimensions of saviour siblings within the Indian context.
Key Insights:
- The concept of saviour siblings involves the deliberate conception of a child for medical donation to a sibling.
- The increasing incidence of saviour babies in India necessitates a focused ethical examination within the country.
Outlook:
- Further research is needed to explore the unique ethical, social, and cultural implications of saviour siblings in India.
- Developing specific ethical guidelines for the conception and use of saviour siblings in India is crucial.
Abstract:
Saviour babies or saviour siblings are conceived specifically to be sources of biological materials - ranging from cord blood, stem cells or even organs - to save another child, usually an older sibling, who is suffering from a disease like thalassemia that can be cured with this biological material. In 2020, the media reported about the birth of India's first saviour baby, in the state of Gujarat [1]. In January 2023, there was a report of the birth of another saviour baby, in the state of Maharashtra [2]. Ethical concerns relating to saviour siblings find a place in the western bioethics discourse. However, it is little discussed in the Indian context.
More Related Videos
09:33Visualizing Field Data Collection Procedures of Exposure and Biomarker Assessments for the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network Trial in India
Published on: December 23, 2022
07:36An Experimental Analysis of Children's Ability to Provide a False Report about a Crime
Published on: May 3, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
In- and Out-Groups
Stereotype Content Model
Stereotype Threat and Self-fulfilling Prophecies
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
