My Sister's Keeper ethical principles and social justice issues

Picoult, J. (2004). My Sister's Keeper: A . New York: Atria. Social Justice Issues. I hone ethical principles/theories expressed situation write thesis statement including principle/theory.

Jodi Picoult's 2004 novel "My Sister's Keeper" puts across an account involving ethical dilemmas and ethical thinking that are likely to trigger intense feelings in readers. The novel is told from several perspectives, most probably with the purpose of presenting readers with an overall image of the events that take place in the book. Picoult's scenario makes it possible for a series of ethical issues to arise, especially considering Anna's situation. The fact that the girl's birth is not initially planned and that once she is born she has to undergo many dangerous medical procedures presents readers with the gravity of her position and with the fact that she was denied the right to a happy childhood. When considering matters from a deontological perspective, one is likely to believe that Kate's parents were right in deciding to have Anna as a means to assist their ailing daughter.

Anna's contribution to assisting her sister is practically seen as a duty by her parents, as they believe that she should be unhesitant about doing everything in her power in order for her sister to experience positive results from the treatment that she is undergoing. Deontology promotes the concept that a person has an obligation toward his or her sibling. Thus, Anna should be unhesitant about giving her kidney to her sister in an act of supererogation.

The moment when Kate intervenes and influences her sister in expressing doubt regarding her role is essential because it demonstrates that she has respect for Anna's autonomy. She believes that Anna should be the only individual who can decide whether or not she wants to take a risk. Kate acknowledges Anna's existence as a rational being and knows that it would be wrong for someone to influence her in believing that she has no say in the overall state of affairs involving her sick sister.

Anna has a more intimate relationship with her thinking, her body, and her emotions and only she can decide whether or not it would be right for her to donate her kidney. Her parents are certainly unable to see matters from her perspective because they suffered for a long period of time and they believe that it would be unreasonable for Kate's treatment to stop now. One can even claim that Sara and Brian are insensitive in regard to Anna's pain because the last years of their lives have consisted out of episodes involving Kate suffering. These people are unable to understand that Kate's chances to survive a kidney transplant are significantly reduced as a consequence of her poor health condition and only focus on doing everything in their power to buy her a few more years, even if this means that Anna is used as a tool. They have no guarantee that Kate will survive the operation and they are aware that it is likely for her body to reject the transplant, but express no interest in any other solution.