Legal and Ethical Dilemmas of Savior Siblings Practices in India

Aiswarya Acharya¹ , Rubi Talukdar^2* , Prabir Kumar Pattnaik³ & Swayam Prava Satpathy^{4  
1}Research Scholar, SNIL (Faculty of Legal Studies), Siksha O Anusandhan Deemed to be University.
²Assistant Professor, SNIL (Faculty of Legal Studies), Siksha O Anusandhan Deemed to be University. *Corresponding author.
³Professor, SNIL (Faculty of Legal Studies), Siksha O Anusandhan Deemed to be University.
⁴Associate Professor, Dept. of Humanities, Siksha O Anusandhan Deemed to be University

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 17, Issue 2, 2025. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v17n2.07g
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Abstract

“Savior siblings” are children conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) and Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing (PGT) with the intent of serving as potential stem cell, tissue, or organ donors for an existing, ailing sibling. This process involves screening and selecting embryos to ensure genetic compatibility before implantation. While such advancements offer hope to families confronting life-threatening illnesses, they also raise significant ethical and legal questions, particularly in India, where specific legislation regarding savior siblings remains absent. This paper aims to explore three key concerns: first, whether the creation of savior siblings constitutes an ethical practice; second, whether it is justifiable to conceive a child solely for organ donation; and third, how current Indian legal frameworks address—or fail to address—the use of reproductive technologies in this context. A survey was conducted to gauge public opinion on the ethical and legal dimensions of savior siblings in India. The results indicate that while the practice may be viewed as ethically acceptable when balanced carefully against considerations of medical necessity, bodily autonomy, child welfare, and informed consent, the use of savior siblings strictly for organ donation is not supported.

Keywords: Ethics, Genetic Testing, Organ Donation, Reproductive Technology, Savior Siblings.