It is definitely not correct to take over the rights of another human being. The issue on whether it is right to create a life to save another life has been a very controversial topic since in vitro fertilization was introduced. Most people may say that no one has the right to take control over someone else’s life let alone bring him to this world for someone else’s sake. However, as a mother, I would want to give the best I can, and only the very best, to my child.


My child, Charlie, suffers from a rare disorder that prevents his body from producing red blood cells and he has to take daily medications and frequent transfusions and needs to be under close medical care if not he would die. Thus, my husband and I decided to use in vitro fertilization to conceive another child, but only fertilize the egg which would be most able to donate blood-making cells to Charlie. Of course, this is a painful decision but we have given it much thought before making the decision and we feel that this is the best way to save our suffering son. Although this decision to bear another child to save Charlie is the best solution by far, there will also be problems that will arise. For example, the child that we decide to conceive will inevitably feel upset or feel that we are biased towards Charlie. To solve this problem, we, as their parents, must be the first to explain and let them know what is actually happening. We will tell our child that although he was being brought to this world to donate blood-making cells to Charlie, he is still our child and we will treat him equally as how we would treat Charlie; and that we are not biased towards Charlie but actually wanting to save his fragile life. This way, he will then understand this issue and will not be doubtful about his existence. Of course, there are also other alternate solutions to save Charlie’s life.


We can continue to let Charlie take daily medications and frequent transfusions but there will be problems that we will face in the long run, for example, if there is blood shortage for transfusions in the blood bank or if the blood donated to Charlie is unsuitable and there may be tissue rejection. Another solution is to donate our blood to Charlie. However, although this is the simplest and fuss-free solution, our blood type does not match that of Charlie’s, and thus this solution cannot be used. Another solution is to use science to develop a technique to produce suitable and sufficient blood-making cells for Charlie. This way, Charlie will get suitable blood-making cells while we do not have to bear another child. However, this solution has its limitations as no such technique has been developed so far and Charlie needs these transfusions frequently. Thus, we feel that the best solution is to bear another child that possesses the most suitable and most able to donate blood-making cells to Charlie.


Firstly, the child will have suitable blood-making cells that can be donated to Charlie and since they are from the same parents, there will be a lesser chance of Charlie experiencing tissue rejection. And also, the child will not be harmed when he donates the blood-making cells to Charlie, which suggests that it is a win-win situation. In addition, this solution of bearing another child to save Charlie a better solution for Charlie as there is also a lower chance of Charlie’s body producing antibodies against these cells. Lastly, Charlie will be more secure and safe as there is constant supply of blood-making cells which is suitable for him. I recently read a book titled “My Sister’s Keeper” by Jodi Picoult about creating a life to save a life. The child being brought to this world to save another child was unhappy and wanted to claim the rights over her own body.


However, I feel that as long as if we explain to our child when he is old enough to be able to understand, he will not feel as indignant as he already knows what is happening and why we are acting this way. There will be four stakeholders in this situation, my husband, Charlie, the child and myself. However, just as long as we explain the situation to the two children, I believe that everything will go on smoothly as they would have enough trust in us and in themselves.


I have four ethical questions in mind: Should patients decide their own life? Should parents have the right over their children’s life? Ought we to legalize this procedure whereby a life is created to save another life? There are four values which should be identified in response to this procedure, namely, respect, responsibility, courage and compassion. Before making this decision, we must first respect everyone’s right and that no one is superior over others. We must also be responsible and have enough courage to make the right decision. And thus, after considering all these values, stakeholders and principals, I would like to propose to the Authority to grant my request of creating a life to save my son’s life.