Saviour Siblings Episode Two

The term saviour sibling is one which conjures strong opinions, whether you  agree morally or intellectually, it is a contentious issue and as a result is often featured in the media,  creating a lot of debate. Is creating a saviour sibling one step on the ‘slippery slope’? Will this lead to eugenics? Is it simply providing families with spare parts babies? Or is it about saving the lives of very sick young children?

In the first main podcast we take a look at the story of the Nash family, the world’s first to create a Saviour sibling, now celebrating their daughters 15th birthday, a day they never thought they would see. Once at the centre of a science controversy, Molly Nash became the first recipient of saviour cord blood and her brother, Adam, the first ever saviour sibling. The Nash family used a combination of scientific processes such as PGD and HLA Tissues typing, ensuring a cure for their daughter from Fanconi Anemia.

Natasha Burns and Emma Neale-Edwards take a look at saviour siblings from every angle ranging from the science to the ethics.