Hamilton phrased his original argument with the question of whether
an organism could be expected to sacrifice itself to save three brothers
[1].

He suggested that orgainsms could reasonably be expected to do this.

Much the same argument suggests that organisms should sacrifice 
themselves to save six aunts.

However this might not be such a good deal.  Indeed it might be
a very *bad* deal - if the aunts are much past child-bearing age.

To this extent, the health, fitness and expected reproductive
success of the altruism recipient needs to be factored in in
some way.

How much an organism's fitness is improved by an act that benefits
them can be considered to be a function of their state of health.

[1] The Evolution of Altruistic Behaviour, WDH, 1963.
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