Analysis of Moral Issues in The Film My Sister's Keeper

Introduction

‘My Sister’s Keeper’, directed by Nick Cassavetes, was released in June 2009. The film is an emotional journey. It revolves Anna Fitzgerald, a teenage girl conceived for her gravely ill sister as a blood and marrow donor who has endured countless operations and medical procedures. While the life of Kate, the oldest daughter, has been extended, Anna’s decision to sue her parents for the rights of her own body sets off a court case that breaks the family. While the film represents a range of morally complex issues, from the ethics of genetic engineering to the right of terminally ill patients to choose to die, to a minor’s right to control her own body, there is a moral struggle raging through the family given that Kate continues suffering from cancer, and Anna seeks medical emancipation.

Plot

Kate was diagnosed with leukemia when she was two years old. She has a difficult time performing her responsibility as a ‘big sister’ because Anna is repeatedly the one giving to her. Anna is known as the ‘savior baby,’ the one able to keep Kate alive, which explains the chosen title, ‘My Sister’s Keeper.’ Anna starts out leading the audience to believe she is suing her parents for the rights to her own body; she does not want to be Kate’s donor, but in reality, Kate is the one who wanted Anna to issue the lawsuit because she cannot endure the battle with cancer any longer.

Their parents argue with Anna to save Kate, not knowing the truth behind the lawsuit. Sara is a determined mother, to the point that the single-minded desire to help Kate hurts others. Keeping Kate alive as long as possible is Sara’s intention that calls for sacrifice and unprecedented love. She neglects the rest of her family to protect Kate. Jesse, the oldest Fitzgerald child, often feels neglected, insufficient, and ignored by his family that he goes into the city to feel noticed and observe life outside of his family. Sara, as a mother, it is her right to make decisions for the family. However, it is a conflict of interest because Sara is making decisions that save one daughter at the expense of her other daughter’s body.

My Sister’s Keeper ethical analysis

This film poses complex moral issues, from the ethics of genetic engineering. The film does not promote ‘savior babies,’ but it does question the genetic engineering activity to generate a new life. Anna’s existence is ethically and morally questionable. Savior babies are described as ‘infants born to have HLA compatible sections of the body, usually umbilical cord blood to be used for bone-marrow transplantation to preserve their older sibling’s existence.’ Conception is a normal occurrence that happens during intercourse. The notion of producing an embryo by engineering disrupts the natural order. Also, those who are religious in a situation like this would contradict religious teachings concerning God’s intention of procreation.

The motive of parents plays a role in deciding whether the development of a savior baby is ethical. If the parents were not intending on having any more children and have the savior baby for the interest of the other child, then there is the matter of using the savior baby as a means to an end. If the parents did intend to have more children, then the savior baby is desired and is not being designed to save the other child. Nonetheless, having a savior baby is using the child exclusively as a means to an end. Even if the savior sibling is loved, there are concerns the child may feel like a means to some degree.

This film also poses complex moral issues, from the ethics of the right of terminally ill patients to choose to die. The question posed is why Kate’s doctor suggested a ‘designer baby,’ but not euthanasia. Whether terminally ill patients have the right to choose to die raises several moral dilemmas. Kate did not get the option nor support to end her pain and suffering. Her parents, throughout most parts of the film, neglected her pain. Sara did not value nor respect Kate’s wish to die peacefully. Sara believed it was important to do what was morally right despite Kate’s opinion on wanting to die. Kate had to go through extreme lengths to die with dignity.

With a physician’s assistance, patients receive a better chance of experiencing a painless death. Understandably, the doctor did not suggest euthanasia because universally taking a life is morally wrong. Doctors have the responsibility to save lives and keep others healthy. Euthanasia would be an apparent contradiction to the principles of medicine. However, it is ethical to allow an individual to choose death because it releases the person from suffering. Other people will not comprehend what is best for the terminally ill patient than the patient themselves. Only Kate is aware of what it is like to experience pain and to see those around her suffer.

Lastly, the film poses complex moral issues, from the ethics of a minor’s right to control her own body. The third question posed in the film is to what degree people have the power of their life. The right to life is a fundamental right. Anna’s future is jeopardized by her duty to donate body parts to her sister. She wishes to experience a healthy life and achieve what every other average kid her age does. Sara did not value nor respect Anna’s life. Forcing Anna to donate her body parts is risking her health. It threatens her survival and therefore violates her right to life.

In the film, there was a shift in moral principles. In the beginning, the characters followed Rawl’s veil of ignorance. Rawl’s Veil of Ignorance deals solely with the empowerment and disempowered. In this situation, Kate and Anna were disempowered, while Sara is empowered. Sara demands Anna’s body part and disregards Kate’s request, which reinforces inequality. Sara believed it was important to keep Kate alive even if it means keep taking parts from Anna to provide the most benefit for Kate. Also, Sara and the doctor acted based on virtue ethics. They tried their best to keep Kate alive despite her wanting to die because it would be morally right. Furthermore, someone with good character would do everything they can do to keep someone alive. Keeping Kate alive would be considered the universal moral thing to do.

In the end, the family came to terms with Kate’s wish and did what is best for both Anna and Kate. The Fitzgerald family followed the Kantian moral principle. A believer in Kantian principle would do what Kate wants regardless of the consequences because doing what is morally right would be to let her die peacefully as she wants rather than letting her suffer through treatment that is not effective. The family found a moral balance between the extremes of the situation, Kate dies peacefully, and Anna got medically emancipated and fulfilled her sisters wish.

Additionally, the Utilitarianism principle is implemented in the film. Utilitarianism states that an action can be justified for a greater good. Anna suing her parents could be justified by granting Kates wish. The demands and procedure Anna had to undergo for Kate produced more pain towards the family; therefore, the theory is inapplicable. A believer of Utilitarianism would stop taking parts from Anna to keep Kate alive because Kate wants to die. The majority of the people in the film, as well as the audience, wanted Kate to be happy even if that means dying because she would be dying peacefully and happy.

Each character had a duty to themselves as well as those around them. Kate had a loyalty to the rest of her family. She states, ‘I don’t care if my disease kills me, but it’s killing my family.’ Kate’s family sacrificed so much for her and her illness that ending her suffering was her sacrifice to stop their pain. Anna had a responsibility to help Kate. From the very beginning to the end, Anna was her sister keeper. Anna’s responsibility was to donate her body part, and her final responsibility was to help Kate die. Also, Sara and the rest of the family had a duty to Kate. As Kate’s mother, she had to accept and fulfill Kate’s wish.

Conclusion

This film poses several medical, ethical, and social concerns but is justified. The film values life, despite the hardships of fate. Anna issues the lawsuit, not for herself, but Kate, although it raises concerns, and was excruciating for her to make the choice she took. She did the ethical thing to do for Kate. Under a situation like this, the film displays a strong sisterhood. Kate and Anna retain a strong relationship that they make decisions based on the other rather than themselves. Although the choice both Anna and Kate decided on divided and destroyed the family, in the end, it is for the best. Sometimes moral boundaries have to be crossed for a higher purpose. The film explores the viewers’ expectations of what family love is, the meaning of loyalty, the boundaries of sacrifice, and the nature of obligation and responsibility.

Works Cited

1. Cassavetes, N. (Director). (2009). My Sister's Keeper [Motion picture]. Warner Bros. Pictures.
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