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Octuplets (And Mom's Other 6 Kids) Add to Ethical Questions
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 31, 2009
Modified Jan 31, 2009
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 31, 2009
Modified Jan 31, 2009
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While the 52-member medical team that delivered a California woman's octuplets earlier this week are being hailed for their skills, medical experts are concerned. Nadya Suleman, 33, already had six children when she decided to be implanted, via in vitro fertilization, with frozen embryos left from previous procedures. NYU Fertility Center program director Dr. James Grifo told CBS News, "I know no physician who would put eight embryos in a patient. We don't do that, because of the risks. Our goal as practitioners is to help patients have a healthy offspring. Single pregnancies, where a single baby is born, are the best outcome. And those alone are risky... But we don't start with in-vitro fertilization treatment... I don't know the story, but it does not make sense...Most of us in this situation, a woman under 35, would only put two embryos back... I don't know people putting six embryos back." Speaking to the LA Times, Suleman's mother said her daughter "is not evil, but she is obsessed with children. She loves children, she is very good with children, but obviously she overdid herself."
Tagged
fertility
health
ivf
NYU Fertility Program
octuplets
pregnancy
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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