Medical Intent and Ethical Uncertainty of a Designer Child in Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper

Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper portrays, a family grappling with the ethical and emotional challenges posed by the conception of a designer child. The story centres on Anna Fitzgerald, a child genetically selected to serve as a donor for her sister Kate who is suffering from leukaemia. This situation raises complex questions about identity, bodily autonomy and the psychological burden placed on children born for medically intended purposes. By applying Beauchamp and Childress’s Principles of Biomedical Ethics, this study investigates the tension between Anna’s individual autonomy and the medical purposes imposed on her existence. It examines how the novel critiques conventional bioethical assumptions by highlighting the psychological and moral impact on children conceived for medical reasons. The research further explores how medical decision making affects personal agency and challenges traditional views of family, autonomy and identity. This study also emphasises the need for ethical frameworks that balance medical necessity with respect for individual dignity and self-determination. This research ultimately contributes to the growing field of literature and bioethics by demonstrating how fictional narratives can offer critical insights into real world ethical debates.