Author:

Keywords:

Hoger Instituut voor Gezinswetenschappen, 2203 Philosophy, 5003 Philosophy

Abstract:

For children who have a serious genetic disorder, a stem cell transplant may often be the only hope for a cure. Finding a suitable donor is not always obvious. Thanks to Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis for HLA-typing (PGD/HLA), it is possible for women to give birth to a healthy baby that also can act as a stem cell donor for his seriously ill brother or sister. The welfare of the future baby plays an important role in the ethical debate on PGD/HLA. According to some ethicists, the welfare is associated with the existence of a wish for a child before being informed about the need of donor material. In this article, however, we want to demonstrate that the future well-being of the baby is related to the risks and discomfort of the possible stem cell transplants that the saviour baby may face later in life and with the outcome of the stem cell transplant(s).