A 15 year-old female is asked whether she would consent to being a bone marrow donor for her mother who is critically ill and in need of a bone marrow transplant. The two of them have had a close relationship with the adolescent daughter occasionally acting out. However, a bone marrow transplant is not a risk-free procedure, the younger family member may cause coercion, and having the daughter more involved in the care may cause her to feel more responsible for the outcome. You are called onto an ethics committee to rule on the topic.
How would you opine?
Cast your vote and see the results here!
Samuel Timm is a student at The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, class of 2019, and is a native of Arizona. He graduated from The University of Arizona in 2013 with a Bachelor in Science in psychology. His academic interests include medical ethics and medical advocacy in legislation and policy. In his spare time, Sam enjoys swimming, playing guitar, traveling, and hiking. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact him at samuelt[at]email.arizona.edu.