Savior Sibling have been allowed in Briton since 2001 where a child is born with the express intent to save his/her sibling thru blood, stem cell, or tissue donation.
Under the process, embryos would be created through in-vitro fertilization, tested for their suitability as donors and then transferred to a woman's womb to be carried to term.
The story makes no mention of how the children are used as donors, are they killed for their parts, or are they only allowed to make donations that do not effect their quality of life? And could we be far from the day when this question is not allowed to be asked?
A spokeswoman for the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) said only a "handful" of babies have been born in Britain following this procedure since it was first allowed in 2001. Doctors involved in the creation of savior siblings say it is always a last resort for parents with no other option to save their children. Critics charge that the practice is fundamentally wrong, noting that embryos deemed not suitable are discarded. They also said it clears the way for "designer babies" who are created for looks, intellect or physical abilities.
The BBC 12/may/08 podcast report I heard implied the children were allowed to live, but they were not clear on that point either. I don't think I have to go too far to explain the wrongs in this story. To bring a child into this world to be parts for another is clearly beyond the pale yet in the BBC report the debate never asked if this was moral, only how the "Savior sibling" would live knowing his/her reason for being.
Another view of this story
P.S. I want to note that the Spokeswoman for the HFEA said only a handful of babies had been used this way, yet the reason for this story is the planned expansion of this program so more babies can be born as donors for even less serious illnesses.
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