Babies for parts

[pomtzu]

Since there has been an issue of "replacement" children cropping up in another thread, I thought it would be interesting to see what folks here thought about this issue...

I remember a while back (5-10 years maybe???), a woman conceived a child for the purpose of it being a potential donor for an older child who needed a bone marrow transplant. This woman had a baby to use it to save another - how ethical was that??? As it was, there was a match, and all lived happily ever after!!! Or did they????? I can't help but wonder how that child will feel, knowing that she was conceived for the sole purpose of trying to save her older sibling. I'm sure she is loved by her family, but what a rotten feeling that must be (IMO), knowing that you wouldn't be here if the older child hadn't been sick!

[RICHARD]

Since there has been an issue of "replacement" children cropping up in another thread, I thought it would be interesting to see what folks here thought about this issue...

Hey, no problem!

Grow em if you need them!

[pomtzu]

Hey, no problem!

Grow em if you need them!

I do hope that you're not serious.............

[Karen]

I think she will have an interesting story to tell, if she chooses to some day, but that's it. I doubt she'll have any long-term negative psychological impacts, unless the family is more dysfunctional than we have heard. Hey, she can say "I was born for a reason" which is the old "why am I here?" question some people spend their whole lives wondering about!

It is something ethically difficult, that each person will have to make their own mind and heart up about. I am glad I have never been in their situation.

[pomtzu]

Hey, she can say "I was born for a reason" which is the old "why am I here?" question some people spend their whole lives wondering about!

It is something ethically difficult, that each person will have to make their own mind and heart up about. I am glad I have never been in their situation.

I guess it's like asking the question - do you see the glass half empty, or half full?

[Karen]

I guess it's like asking the question - do you see the glass half empty, or half full?

Me - half full of course, soon to be emptied and refilled!

[RICHARD]

I do hope that you're not serious.............

no, I am not.

THe winky eyed guy should have given it away.

I truly believe that no person or animal is replaceable. Yeppers, we are all special in out own right. To think that we can just create or adopt another entity to take the place on another is very selfish.

I equate the 'replacement kid' to an adoptee.

Therein lies the rub. IF a couple adopts more for the child's need, than their own, fine. But to adopt, replace or 'grow' a kid for your own nesting urges may be a little more selfish than altruistic.

[pomtzu]

Therein lies the rub. IF a couple adopts more for the child's need, than their own, fine. But to adopt, replace or 'grow' a kid for your own nesting urges may be a little more selfish than altruistic.

Nesting urges isn't the issue in this thread. Growing to harvest is. Big difference!

[Bonny]

At least the little girl knows what her purpose was in the beginning. A lot of people still don't know what they are even doing here? When I was a youngster growing up & things would get unbearable, I use to say to my mom " I didn't ask to be born!" Maybe someday she will emerge & tell the world what she thinks of it.

[Grace]

Interesting article about this - mentions the gal whose illness prompted pomtzu's topic.

http://www.newsday.com/news/specials...,5667050.story

[Twisterdog]

I can't help but wonder how that child will feel, knowing that she was conceived for the sole purpose of trying to save her older sibling.

While I suppose there is a chance that she was born for the "sole purpose" mentioned, you have no way of knowing that. A lot of people actually have children because the want and love them. I think you are reading a lot into the motives and emotions of these parents that you have no way of knowing.

Personally, I would be happy knowing that my existance saved a life, especially the life of one of my siblings, whom I love.

[Grace]

In the article I posted the link for, Anissa Ayala said this about the sister conceived to, hopefully, provide a bone marrow donation -

"My sister is the one who will tell you that without me she wouldn't be here, and without her, I wouldn't be here."

I remember back then, wondering about the rightness of what the parents were doing. As I've grown older, it doesn't bother me any longer.

[DJFyrewolf36]

If and only if they had that kid as spare parts and didn't love and cherish that child as all children deserve to be loved then the parents would be selfish and shouldn't have EITHER child. However, we don't know what goes on behind the media glamor screen so we are in no place to judge. I hope the second child is loved just as much as the first, and that the first is loved just as much as the second. You never truely know what motivates people any more.

I'm comfortable and quite sure of why I exist at least...I wish more people were as sure as I am I suppose everything does happen for a reason...

[blue]

If and only if they had that kid as spare parts and didn't love and cherish that child as all children deserve to be loved then the parents would be selfish and shouldn't have EITHER child. However, we don't know what goes on behind the media glamor screen so we are in no place to judge. I hope the second child is loved just as much as the first, and that the first is loved just as much as the second. You never truely know what motivates people any more.

Exactly.

If the second child is produced only to save the first and then be discarded or treated as second class or loved anything other then unconditionally child, I would view it as unethical.

As long as both children come away healthy and loved, I have no problem with this practice.

We are not talking about cloning for parts harvesting.

[pomtzu]

We are not talking about cloning for parts harvesting.

Not yet anyway.........


And honestly, I'd rather be here knowing that I "just happened naturally" (the way it used to be most of the time) - not planned or not a mistake or an oops. But in this day and age and the way the world has changed, planned is a matter of practicality and necessity in most instances. I just think what was done by producing this child, is very much a grey area