Concern over 'spare part' babies @ BBC News

I'm OK with 'saviour sibling'... I call her that way all the time. I'm more or less OK with 'designer baby'... It can get controversial.. But I'm NOT OK with 'spare part baby'... I don't like that.

Concern over 'spare part' babies Children created as so-called "saviour siblings" to aid a sick brother or sister must be monitored to ensure their wellbeing, experts suggest.

It warns that once a child has been created to save a sibling, there could be a temptation to view them as a spare parts bank.

The report says: "Taking blood from the umbilical cord after birth causes no ill effects, but the removal of bone marrow is more controversial as it causes discomfort, although the long-term risk of harm is slight.

"However, once it is accepted in principle that children can be created to save the lives of siblings, perhaps more extensive - ie the donation of a kidney - or repeated tissue donations may be seen as equally permissible."

The report suggests it would be difficult to justify preventing parents who have a child with a life-threatening condition from attempting to create a saviour sibling.

But it says there have to be safeguards for family relationships and the wellbeing of the child in such circumstances.

Read the complete article via BBC here.