My Sister's Keeper

My Sister's Keeper is a story of a girl who decides to sue her parents for the rights to her own body in
this powerful family drama that tackles a controversial subject with grace and explores what it means
to be a good person..

Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries,
transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has
plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived
as a bone marrow match for Kate—a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like
most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has
always been defined in terms of her sister—and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be
unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the
sister she loves.

My Sister’s Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it
morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child’s life, even if that means infringing upon the
rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself
less? Should you follow your own heart, or let others lead you? Once again, in My Sister’s
Keeper, Jodi Picoult tackles a controversial real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity.

This film is about Using the latest medical technology, Anna Fitzgerald the main character, was
conceived in vitro and was genetically created to be a perfect match donor child for her sister Kate
who has leukemia. Now at 11 years old, Anna seeks the help of Attorney Campbell Alexander to gain
medical emancipation from her parents, more specifically her mother Sara. Anna brings to the
attention of everyone around her that she matters too. She has helped keep her sister alive for 11
years, has gone through multiple medical procedures and surgeries, but she draws the line at
donating her kidney. Sara, the girls mother, is beside herself with anger and only sees one side... how
to keep Kate alive at all costs. After Anna files a lawsuit against her parents Sara decides to take this
matter to court so Anna isn't emancipated and has to help Kate. Will Anna win the legal medical
emancipation lawsuit and be free to decide what is done to her body? Or will the judge decide Anna is
too young?

Conceived by means of in vitro fertilization, Anna Fitzgerald (Abigail Breslin) was brought into the
world to be a genetic match for her older sister, Kate (Sofia Vassilieva), who suffers from acute
promyelocytic leukemia. Because of her sister's dependency on her, Anna is unable to live the life
she wants; in and out of the hospital constantly, she cannot take part in extracurricular activities such
as cheerleading or soccer. When Kate turns 13 she goes into renal failure. Knowing that she will have
to donate one of her kidneys to her sister, Anna sues her parents for medical emancipation and the
rights to her own body. 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. Kate later dies at the hospital. The family moves on with their lives, being changed
by Kate's death, but every year on Kate's birthday they go to Montana, which was her favorite place
in the world.

Kate makes a request to go to the beach one last time, and Brian obtains permission from her doctor
and removes her from the hospital to take her and the kids. Overprotective as ever, Sara is furious
when Brian shows up at the house with Kate and demands that she be returned to the hospital. Brian
angrily refuses and drives off, threatening Sara with a divorce if she does not join them. Sara later
shows up at the beach, where they enjoy one final family outing. To Sara's dismay, the judge (Joan
Cusack) refuses to grant summary dismissal, and the case goes to a hearing. During the hearing,
Anna and Kate's older brother, Jesse reveal that Anna's actions are actually under Kate's instruction;
Kate, not wanting to live any longer, and knowing Sara refuses to hear any option other than her
desired one, had gently persuaded Anna to refuse to donate her kidney. Sara is indignant at this
discovery, but is finally forced by both Jesse and Brian to realize that Kate had been trying to tell her
this for some time. Before the case is decided, Kate dies while sleeping at the hospital with her
mother by her side. After Kate's death, Campbell brings the court decision: Anna won the case. The
family moves on with their lives, but every year on Kate's birthday they go to Montana, which was her
"most favorite place in the world." At the end, Anna says that their relationship continues because she
will see Kate again.

There are many ethical issues related to nursing in the novel My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult. The
role of the nurse is to provide nursing diagnosis to help the patient and the people involved. The
nurse’s role is also to promote the patient’s well-being and state of mind. In this paper, an explanation
of the patient’s diagnosis will be reviewed, some of the ethical issues will be presented, a care plan
will be created for one of the characters, and some of the nursing roles and responsibilities will be
evaluated.

This film raises a number of ethical issues. The first one is the practicing of genetic engineering,
which uses embryo tissues to create new life. Conception is a natural process that takes place
through sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. Therefore, the idea of creating an embryo
through artificial means violates the natural order of things. This practice contradicts religious
teachings with regards to God’s intention of man, and the role of marriage in procreation. The second
issue raised in the film is the extent to which individuals have control of their own lives. The right to
life is a fundamental and universal human right. Anna’s life is threatened by the obligation imposed
upon her to donate her kidney. She wishes to lea a normal life and raise a family of her own. Forcing
her to donate her kidney threatens her own survival, and therefore violates her right to life.
Nevertheless, Stuart Mill’s utilitarian theory argues that an action is judged to be right or wrong in light
of its effect on others. Accordingly, both Anna and Kate are faced with a moral dilemma regarding
their right to life. Kate’s need of a kidney automatically endangers Anna’s life, which means that she
was morally right in refusing to have a transplant. On her part, Anna’s reluctance to donate her kidney
means that Kate will not live, thus portraying her as selfish and uncaring toward her sister. Her
attitude echoes Christian teachings about being one’s brother’s keeper, which evidently inspired the
film’s title. Thus, Anna fails the moral test of being her sister’s keeper. Ironically, it is Kate who
becomes her sister’s keeper by giving up the desire to live to save Anna from the obligation to donate
her kidney.