What is the medical ethics of implanting 8 embryos in a single parent, (who lives at home with her parents and has 6 other children under the age of 7),  when fertility guidelines advise against implanting more than 2 embryos in a woman under 35?

For those who have not read the news in a week, I’m referring to the case of the Californian woman who recently gave birth to 8 babies.

I couldn’t help wonder when I saw the news clip of the docs on CNN yesterday how they could be so excited about this medical feat. Indeed, certain procedural safeguards that protect women from carrying too many fertilized embryos were ignored. These safeguards protect the health of the mother as well as the viability and health of the implanted embryos. So why were these safeguards ignored?

I was disappointed when Sanjay Gupta, the medical correspondent on CNN, mentioned the case yesterday and did not discuss this aspect. Smiling at the camera, he instead reported that all 8 premies were breathing on their own.

No discussion about protocols being broken.

No mention of the morality of bringing 8 more babies into this world to a woman who already has 6 children.

Why on earth would any medical personnel seriously consider allowing this? What were they thinking?

It is irresponsible on the part of the medical team as well as the woman. How can she afford to raise and educate them ($2.5 million was one estimate for just basic food, shelter, clothing). How fair is this to her other children?

Just because medically we can do something, should we?