Savior Siblings

Abstract

Abstract The term “savior sibling” is used to refer to a child conceived using in vitro fertilization with the intention that the child will, upon birth, be a compatible donor for another child who is ill (Spriggs and Savulescu 2002). Using preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), an embryo can be tested genetically to see if it is affected by a genetic condition ( see Genetic Testing). Using tissue typing techniques, the embryo can also be tested to see if it would be a compatible donor for an existing child (Verlinsky et al. 2004). Subject to legal and regulatory requirements in the jurisdiction in which the procedure takes place, it may be possible for prospective parents to select between embryos and to choose one that would be a compatible donor for an existing child who is ill. The debate over savior siblings links in with broader debates about “designer babies” ( see Reproductive Technology), although it has been argued that characterizing savior siblings as being on a slippery slope toward “designer babies” fails to appreciate the important differences between these categories, including the difference between using PGD to create a savior sibling so as to save a child's life, and selecting designer babies on the basis of trivial characteristics such as hair color (Sheldon and Wilkinson 2004: 534–5).