Mother of octuplets case raises ethical questions
We heard that she had octuplets—six boys and two girls. They were delivered by Cesarean
section weighing between 1 pound, 8 ounces and 3 pounds, 4 ounces.
Forty-six physicians and staff assisted in the deliveries.
Then we heard that she had six additional children at home, ages 2 through 7.
Now CBS News is reporting that Nadya Suleman, 33, the woman who gave birth to octuplets this week and has conceived all 14 of her children through in-vitro fertilization, is not married, lives at home with her parents, and has been obsessed with having children since she was a teenager. The information is attributed to her mother.
Medical ethicists are fiercely debating the appropriateness of the fertility treatment and of the implantation of so many embryos.
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There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.
She had so many children, she didn't know what to do.
She gave them some broth without any bread,
Then whipped them all soundly and put them to bed.— Old English Nursery Rhyme
Nadya Suleman makes me think of that nursery rhyme about the old woman who lived in a shoe and had so many children she didn't know what to do. But at least the old woman in the nursery rhyme had her own shoe to raise them in. Nadya Suleman lives at home with her parents. If she can't even take care of herself, how can she take care of so many children?
I wonder if her obsession with having all those babies is akin to cat hoarding syndrome.
Links to coverage:
CBS News
Los Angeles Times
ABC News
Then we heard that she had six additional children at home, ages 2 through 7.
Now CBS News is reporting that Nadya Suleman, 33, the woman who gave birth to octuplets this week and has conceived all 14 of her children through in-vitro fertilization, is not married, lives at home with her parents, and has been obsessed with having children since she was a teenager. The information is attributed to her mother.
Medical ethicists are fiercely debating the appropriateness of the fertility treatment and of the implantation of so many embryos.
Dr. Mark Surrey, a fertility expert, told Early Show national correspondent Hattie Kauffman that it is irresponsible and medically risky to implant eight embryos. "(Any doctor who would do that) should be criticized, censured, and professionally reviewed," Surrey said.Means of support
"Single pregnancies, where a single baby is born, are the best outcome. And those alone are risky. When you have twins, you add more risk. And when you have triplets, it's even more risk, and it’s logarithmic the number of babies."
Other medical experts worried that she would be overwhelmed trying to raise so many children and would end up relying on public support.
Read the full article here.
There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.
She had so many children, she didn't know what to do.
She gave them some broth without any bread,
Then whipped them all soundly and put them to bed.— Old English Nursery Rhyme
Nadya Suleman makes me think of that nursery rhyme about the old woman who lived in a shoe and had so many children she didn't know what to do. But at least the old woman in the nursery rhyme had her own shoe to raise them in. Nadya Suleman lives at home with her parents. If she can't even take care of herself, how can she take care of so many children?
I wonder if her obsession with having all those babies is akin to cat hoarding syndrome.
Links to coverage:
CBS News
Los Angeles Times
ABC News
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