Knowing that her parents will force her to donate a kidney to her sister, and weary of the endless medical procedures Anna decides to sue her parents, Sara and Brian Fitzgerald, for medical emancipation, or the rights to her own body. Attorney Campbell Alexander agrees to work for Anna. Anna wins the case, and due to her sister's wishes does not donate her kidney. Kate lost the fight and later died in the hospital. From watching this film many ethical issues were evident which include the lack of autonomy and veracity.
Ahnyinah Davis American Literature 4th Block Amie Howard 4/27/12 I am My sister’s keeper The book My Sister’s Keeper was published in 2004 by Atria books, the movie My Sister’s Keeper was published in 2009 by Nick Cassavetes. The book and the movie talks about a young girl name Kate, who is diagnosed with cancer and also tells the story about a 13 year-old girl name Anna, who sues her parents for medical rights to her body when she is expected to donate a kidney. The book and the movie differ from one another but still talks on the subject of Kate having leukemia. This book was thought provoking, inspiring, and heart wrenching. While reading the novel My Sister’s Keeper it took me back to the year my mom died, just like Kate she too needed a kidney but wasn’t as fortunate to live long enough for it to happen.
However, when Kate's health took a dramatic turn and Anna would have to give up one of her kidneys, Anna refused and the Fitzgerald's plan began to backfire. Anna hired a lawyer, played by Alec Baldwin, to represent her in attempt to gain medical emancipation. According to Boggs and Petrie (2008), this represents a struggle for human dignity. This term is stated as being “the struggle to stand erect, to display courage, sensitivity, intelligence, a spiritual and moral sense, and strong individualism. This conflict is best shown when the central characters are placed in a position of
"It made me wonder though, what would have happened if Kate had been healthy. Chances are, I'd still be floating up in Heaven or wherever, waiting to be attached to a body to spend some time on Earth" (page 8, Anna). This quote really shows how much her sister means to her, she would rather Kate be happy and do what she wants and Anna just listen to what she needs. In the movie, Anna is up on the stand giving her testimony, and Jesse freaks out and tells her to tell the truth about why she was really bringing her parents to court; Kate wanted to die, she didn't want the kidney transplant to save her life. This is a dedicated sister, Anna didn't say a word until the end because that is what Kate wanted her to do.
Attorney Campbell Alexander (Alec Baldwin) agrees to work for Anna pro bono. The film is interlaced with flashbacks that detail the strong relationship between Kate and Anna, as well as how Kate's illness has affected her siblings' lives. Before the result of the case is known, it is revealed that Kate had asked Anna to file for medical emancipation. Believing that she would not survive the surgery, Kate wants to die. Anna wins the case, and due to her sister's wishes does not donate her kidney.
Cloning babies can cause mental deformities. Another controversial topic about cloning is that “It is tested on animals, women from third world countries, and many pregnant women” (Glassman 16). Luckily for Anna, she was healthy and designed properly by scientists. Cloning has many negatives and positive outcomes. Anna was born specifically so that she could give organs to her older sister Kate, who was diagnosed with cancer when she was only two years old.
My Sister’s Keeper My Sister's Keeper is about a thirteen-year-old named Anna Fitzgerald who finds the need to sue her parents for medical emancipation. Anna was conceived by preimplantation genetic diagnosis to be a sibling bone marrow match donor for her sister Kate, who suffers from acute promyelocytic leukemia. In her short life Anna has undergone numerous procedures to provide her sister Kate with what she needs to fight her disease such as bone marrow and stem cells. Upon learning that she is to give up a kidney for her sister Anna decides that she no longer wants to be used as an organ bank so, she does her research and hires lawyer Alexander Campbell to represent her. This bestselling novel by Jodi Picoult that is told by the sides of all its characters touches on many ethical issues; one of which is preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), otherwise known as “designer babies” or savior siblings.
For months she was bedridden, leaning upon her family for support; unwavering in her efforts to combat the deadly disease. She courageously overcame it, although developing a mortal impediment of damage of right leg and foot. She then went on to be become a spirited student trying to prove to herself and others that she could be independent and successful, which were not always expected of a typical Latina in the early nineteen hundreds. This was a time when Mexico was being revolutionized, not only politically but also culturally. The arts were embraced, and people like Kahlo and Rivera (her artist husband) were recognized as influencers and surrealists, not merely street folk trying to earn a living.
Broken family, forgotten children, forced donation. All connected by the heart wrenching film My Sister’s Keeper. Anna (Abigail Breslin), a genetically engineered baby, is the only perfectly matched donor for her leukemic sister Kate (Sofia Vassilieva). Anna, aged 11, reaches out for help from Campbell Alexander (Alec Baldwin), a 91% successful lawyer with a mysterious ‘helper dog’. But as the case thickens, forgotten Jesse (Evan Ellingson) connects with Kate moreso than her parents even realise.
Henrik Ibsen depicts how the conscious and subconscious motives and desires are obtained. Kristine Linde is a woman who has had to give up her dreams due to circumstances beyond her control. She was once in love but because her mother “was bedridden and helpless”and she “had to provide for two younger brothers”(Ibsen, 2011, p. 556) she was forced to marry for convenience of the situation. We can tell this has made her look at life in a more realistic and wise view than that of her friend Mrs Nora Helmer the main character. Mrs Linde has had to work hard and was not afforded love and children which she longed to have.