Document Detail


The California octuplets and the duties of reproductive endocrinologists.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19576370     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The recent birth of octuplets unleashed a firestorm of publicity, casting a harsh light on the mother and her presumed inadequacies as a parent. It also raised questions about the role of reproductive endocrinologists. Herein we consider 3 aspects of this question: should reproductive endocrinologists consider the economic interests of society, should they consider parenting abilities, and should the number of embryos transferred be limited? We conclude that the ethical obligation of reproductive endocrinologists does not extend to protection of society's economic interests; that reproductive endocrinologists, although poorly trained and situated to gauge an individual's ability to parent, can in extreme circumstances refuse to provide assisted reproductive technology; and that a firm limit on the number of transferred embryos is ethically and medically appropriate.
Authors:
Howard Minkoff; Jeffrey Ecker
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  American journal of obstetrics and gynecology     Volume:  201     ISSN:  1097-6868     ISO Abbreviation:  Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol.     Publication Date:  2009 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-07-06     Completed Date:  2009-08-21     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0370476     Medline TA:  Am J Obstet Gynecol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  15.e1-3     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maimonides Medical Center and SUNY Downstate, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Bioethical Issues*
California
Embryo Transfer* / ethics,  standards
Endocrinology / ethics*
Ethics, Medical
Female
Humans
Parenting
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Pregnancy
Pregnancy, Multiple*
Professional Autonomy
Public Health
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Jul;201(1):3-4   [PMID:  19576368 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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