Twin basketball stars Cayden and Cameron Boozer will be taking to the court again this season, Cayden returning to play for Duke University’s Blue Devils, and Cameron to play in the NBA, drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies. Did you know that their lives began 20 years ago in a lab?
While in vitro fertilization is becoming more common in the 21st century, given that now over 100,000 babies are born through in vitro fertilization (IVF) in a single year[1], these boys, in particular, were created for a very specific purpose, one that the media has portrayed as heroic and inspiring.
The consistent headline surrounding the Boozer family story is some variation of, “Twins Born to Save Brother’s Life.” The focus is on the successful treatment of an older sibling’s sickle cell anemia and the athletic accomplishments that followed. Yet, the path taken to achieve the successful treatment and the ethical complications behind it have not only been ignored but also disregarded.
This is an omission of grave magnitude.
The oldest child, Carmani, was born with sickle cell anemia. His best chance at a cure would come from a bone marrow transplant from a sibling. However, it was not guaranteed that a sibling would be viable. Conceiving naturally would be another shot in the dark. Accordingly, his parents turned to IVF to have “the pick of the litter.” One might say that phrase is dehumanizing, and that is exactly the case.
Presented as a real-life miracle, Carmani’s story broke national headlines. People Magazine[2], for example, colorfully painted the unparalleled scientific journey as a heroic one. Other outlets described the family’s journey as “powerful” and family-centered. One article even concludes:
The Boozer twins are living proof that science, determination, and love can create extraordinary outcomes. Their story reminds us that every family’s path is unique, and with the right support, dreams of healthy children can come true.[3]
Cayden (left) and Cameron (right) Boozer were created for their bone marrow. Photo by NetwonsBucket.
Although conveniently overlooked, here is where the seemingly miraculous story darkens.
Because both the mother and father carried the sickle cell trait, there was a significant chance that another naturally-conceived child would also have the condition. Through IVF, the couple created 26 unique human embryos in hopes of having at least one viable embryo. They conducted genetic testing and selected the embryos that did not have sickle cell disease. In summary, this is a troubling move made in the name of “the ends justify the means” on the chessboard of eugenics.
Only two embryos were found to be sickle-cell free. Those two embryos—the “Boozer twins”—were implanted.
The other 24 embryos (human lives) were discarded.
Genetically, they did not live up to the wants and “needs” of their parents, so they did not make the cut.
The procedure used to make this genetic determination is known as Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD), or Preimplantation Genetic Testing. PGD involves creating embryos through IVF and then screening them for specific genetic traits or conditions before deciding which embryos will be transferred and which will not.
Many defend its use and champion PGD as a medical advancement. But from a personhood perspective, PGD functions as a modern form of eugenics. Human beings are created, evaluated according to desired genetic characteristics, scored, ranked, and then selected for life or death based on those findings. Imagine a world in which it is acceptable to kill people based on a genetic caste system. Sadly, that is the world in which we live.
Unashamedly, the People Magazine article swiftly moves on to the birth of the twins and the subsequent treatment of Carmani’s sickle cell anemia. There is no memorialization, let alone any acknowledgement, of the 24 other lives that were lost in this process.
For the Boozers and the mainstream media, it seems as though the ends justify the means.
Carmani underwent treatment and was successfully cured of his illness in 2008. Of course, Christians can and should rejoice with the wonderful news of Carmani’s health – no one is suggesting otherwise.
But that does not erase the cost or the unintended, yet inevitable consequences of the philosophical justification used in this case. The unfortunate truth remains that Carmani’s cure came at the expense of 24 unique, innocent, and unconsenting human lives.
As pro-life advocate Jon Root observed on X:
I’m thankful for the health of Carmani, but when children are treated as a commodity, they’re not seen as human. They’re a means to an end, where we play God and decide who deserves life and death.[4]
That is the ethical quandary at the center of this story.
The public narrative celebrates the two children who survived; the ones who were chosen to live because their genetics were “desirable.” It celebrates Carmani’s recovery. Finally, it celebrates the success of the family. However, one more variable is missing from this account:
It is the 24 lives that were forgotten–sacrificed.
The headline should not be that two children were born to save their brother’s life, but that 24 children were lost in this very process. The reality is that 26 human lives were created, 24 were discarded, and two were permitted to live because they possessed the targeted genetic profile.
The floodgates of genetic testing within IVF have been opened. It cannot continue to be considered morally acceptable regardless of the justification.
The lives of real human beings are at stake, frivolously sacrificed on the altar of adult desires.
Every human life, regardless of age, size, ability, location, or genetic makeup, possesses inherent dignity because every human being is made in the image of God. Human worth is not determined by health status, usefulness, or whether someone else may benefit from our existence. It is not even hinged upon whether or not we can be seen, because that would precipitate the idea that human worth is no longer intrinsic.
Christians must examine whether our views on IVF are self-serving or whether they have been submitted to the authority of Christ. Are we willing to put to death what is earthly as we are commanded in Colossians 3:5 and uphold the dignity of every human life, even when doing so challenges emotionally compelling stories?
This issue will neither be forgotten nor ignored by the righteous judgment of the Lord. Christians will all be held accountable for how we defend precious and innocent life.
The question remains:
Do the ends justify the means?
For those who believe that every human life bears the image of God, the answer must be a resounding no.
Sources:
[1] For the First Time, More Than 100,000 Babies Born Through IVF in the U.S. in a Single Year | American Society for Reproductive Medicine [2] All About Cameron and Cayden Boozer’s 2 Siblings, Brother Carmani and Sister Bloom [3] Conceptual Options and the Boozer Family: A Powerful Story of IVF, PGD, and Family [4] Jon Root on X
Survivors among discarded brothers and sisters | WORLD
Maddie Broome Georgia Right to Life Communications Lead
Communications Lead at Georgia Right to Life
