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.

Related Concept Videos

Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination02:55

Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Humans are very diverse and although we share many similarities, we also have many differences. The social groups we belong to help form our identities (Tajfel, 1974). These differences may be difficult for some people to reconcile, which may lead to prejudice toward people who are different. Prejudice is a negative attitude and feeling toward an individual based solely on one’s membership in a particular social group (Allport, 1954; Brown, 2010). Prejudice is common against people who...
90.2K
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture01:27

Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture

Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...
30
In- and Out-Groups01:31

In- and Out-Groups

People all belong to a gender, race, age, and social economic group. These groups provide a powerful source of our identity and self-esteem (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) and serve as our in-groups. An in-group is a group that we identify with or see ourselves as belonging to.
39.0K
Stereotype Content Model02:16

Stereotype Content Model

The Stereotype Content Model (SCM) was first proposed by Susan Fiske and her colleagues (Fiske, Cuddy, Glick & Xu, 2002; see also Fiske, 2012 and Fiske, 2017). The SCM specifies that when someone encounters a new group, they will stereotype them based on two metrics: warmth—or that group’s perceived intent, and how likely they are to provide help or inflict harm—and competence—or their ability to carry out that objective. Depending on the warmth-competence...
14.7K
Stereotype Threat and Self-fulfilling Prophecies02:09

Stereotype Threat and Self-fulfilling Prophecies

When we hold a stereotype about a person, we have expectations that he or she will fulfill that stereotype. A self-fulfilling prophecy is an expectation held by a person that alters his or her behavior in a way that tends to make it true. When we hold stereotypes about a person, we tend to treat the person according to our expectations. This treatment can influence the person to act according to our stereotypic expectations, thus confirming our stereotypic beliefs. Research by Rosenthal and...
37.6K
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development01:30

Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development

Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
27