The Bioethical Debate over Suleman Octuplets and Hayer Twins February 8
While we recognize the great contribution of fertility drugs, treatments and tests to the millions of couples who want to have children, a bioethical debate revolving around a 33-year-old single mom giving birth to octuplets and a 60-year-old Canadian who recently had twins is on heat.
Nadya Suleman, an unemployed graduate student from California, already has 6 kids before she gave birth to the much talked-about octuplets more than a week ago. Some saw this as a medical miracle, but many considered this as an act of irresponsible parenthood. Suleman does not have a husband, a job or any clear means to support her children, now reaching a total of 14. She lives with her parents and has a history of mental illness. In an interview with NBC, her first public appearance since giving birth, she said that it has always been her dream to have a huge family. While we see no wrong in pursuing individual dreams, we can’t help but ask about how she plans to take care of her children’s needs.
Another newsmaker this week is Ranjit Hayer from Canada, who was actually denied by Canadian fertility clinics of the services she sought, but was still able to get what she wanted with a little trip to India. After decades of trying to conceive with her husband, she decided that it was time to seek the aid of science and went to have two embryos from another woman implanted in her womb. The question on the lips of many – why only now? She’s already 60 and we can never be sure if she or her husband can still be there to check on their children’s welfare while they grow up.
We are not here to pass judgment, but we express deep concern on how the children of Suleman, Hayer and other women who see their story as inspirational can receive proper care. Is it really right to allow more babies to come and see the world only to suffer its hardships?
Tags: fertility, fertility test, fetus, nadya suleman, octuplets, ranjit hayer, treatment
Hilary Smith Feb 8
Who cares if some poor lady has 14 kids? Even if lots of poor people have lots of kids, it still wouldn’t cost us $800,000,000,000 to take care of them. Get off your high horses and point your finger at someone with some real power.
sushshaf Feb 9
I am a pharmacist and one of my regular customers was a woman aged 97 who was in remarkable health. when she was 57 she fell pregnant naturally and had a down sydnrome baby. she said her biggest fear was that she would die and that there would be no one to look after he daughter who was unused to strangers.
down sydnrome children do not have the same life expectancy.
in a way they sustained each other