Ethical Issues Related to Birth of IVF Octuplets : Not a Cause for Celebration, Doctors Warn

 
Two newspapers recently published two opinion pieces examining the ethical issues surrounding the recent birth of octuplets to a California woman, Nadya Suleman, who reportedly underwent fertility treatments. Summaries appear below.
 


~ Arthur Caplan, Philadelphia Inquirer: “Something has gone terribly wrong when a 33-year-old single woman — who has no home of her own, no job [...]

Single men turning to surrogates

NEW YORK (CNN) – Jeff Walker says from as far back as he can remember, he always wanted to be a father.

 

Walker decided to father a second child through surrogacy after he and his parner split. The result: Alexandra.

“It was always something I knew, from the time I was a child.” Just like his 3-year-old daughter, [...]

America’s Funniest Surrogate Stories Contest Winner

The following was selected as the Winning Entries in America’s Funniest Surrogate Stories Contest: Grand Prize Winner:
“I’ll never forget our meeting in Virginia… My IM picked me up from the airport to take me for my sonogram and, after that, out to lunch at the local shopping mall. As we pulled into the parking lot, [...]

Many women would ask a male friend to father their child

A survey of 3,103 men and women, has found that 45 per cent of women surveyed would consider asking a male friend to father their child in the absence of a suitable partner.
The report by the company reveals that both men and women have concerns about fertility issues, with two thirds of the women [...]

Twin Boys for Ricky Martin

Singer Ricky Martin is taking the rest of the year off.

Ricky Martin is the new father of twin baby boys, born by a surrogate mother.
Martin, 36, known for his hits Livin’ La Vida Loca and She Bangs, became a father a few weeks ago and plans to spend the rest of the year with the [...]

Sperm From Female Stem Cells

 
British scientists have created early-stage, human sperm from female stem cells, according to a news reportin New Scientist magazine. It is claimed that the research will pave the way for same sex couples to have children that are genetically their own. However, other scientists are sceptical that this procedure would ever be possible.
Professor Karim Nayernia [...]

Needles & Eggs

Women undergoing fertility treatment could have their chances of success shooting up with acupuncture. German researchers said they have increased success rates by almost 50% in women having in vitro fertilization (IVF). The theory is that acupuncture can affect the autonomic nervous system, which is involved in the control of muscles and glands, and could [...]