Reply #64: Ethics and Regulation.

[uppityperson]

From what I read on the internet news, this was a case of the first 6 children being IVF, and this last batch having a whole bunch of embryos transfered/implanted due to the strong desire of the mom.

I am a RN and a mother and see this from both viewpoints. A person wanting very strongly to have a child from their own genes, from their own body AND the medical aspects, along with the allocation of resources aspect.

I cannot speak against people wanting to bear their own child/children, as I understand that can and is a VERY strong thing for many people. As it was for me. It can be heartbreaking to have this desire and not be able to do it. There are others who say "adopt" or "volunteer with kids somehow" which is also a legitimate thing and a very kind, caring thing to do. But still I understand the need to bear.

However, I do think it unethical for a doctor to transfer/implant this many embryos at a time since there can be huge health issues for the resulting premies. I do not think it fair to put such a high chance of lifelong health issues onto a bunch of kids because the mother "wanted one more". I think that is shameful. I do not know if she was aware of the possible health repercussions, but any doctor doing IVF sure would be and shame on him.

I also have an issue with allocation of resources. Start with the idea that resources are limited (resources being where to put the money and technology). This has been a topic amongst many for as many yrs as I have been aware.

For example, which is a better use of health care resources? Spending a brazillion dollars keeping a bunch of premies alive, or on vaccines for thousands of children in developing countries? Do we put research funding and labs into seeking help for more common diseases or more uncommon ones?

These are difficult questions to ask, very difficult things to look at since we are not just looking at statistics but at individual people. But they must be looked at.

Do we put money into WIC or into Viagra? (ok, that is an extreme difference, but another example). I don't have an answer as to where to put resources, but feel this case was ethically wrong for any legitimate doctor to do this.

Regulating IVF. I do not know how it is regulated, but would like to see it done to avoid instances like this.