When 34-year-old Nadya Suleman gave caesarean section birth to octuplets, at Kaiser Permanente Hospital, in California, early January 2009, the story quickly spread to the media as a miracle. The initial reaction, of this medical miracle, of eight babies, was astonishment. Then Nadya announced that the babies were conceived through vitro fertilization (IVF), “in which eggs and sperm are combined in the laboratory, creating embryos that are then transferred into the uterus” (Gerdes, Louise, 2010).
The celebration of the second set of octuplets born in the United States, in history, quickly changed when the public learned that Nadya was divorced and single, living with her financially stressed mom, unemployed, on public welfare, and already had six other children, also conceived the babies by vitro fertilization.
Nadia was immediately labeled “Octomom” and faced international ridicule. (Gerdes, Louise, 2010).
Public and professional opinions rose from all direction, as no one could believe a medical doctor would assist someone, in her position, to have even more children.
They also felt wanting to create more children was irresponsible, on her part, and questioned if the California taxpayers would be paying for the care of all of her children. (Johnston, Josephine, 2009). The birth of the eight babies has left Nadya Suleman’s life as a nightmare, and has also opened several doors for the medical field, questioning the bioethics of what took place.
Accusations and opinions brought criticism of parents who try to make financial gains through their children. There is still great anger concerning the children’s well-being, and the competency of fertility doctors.
(Shah, Kavita R. and Batzer, Frances R. , 2009). A long list of medical, legal, and ethical issues rose to the top of the debate, because of the irregularities that currently exist for vitro fertilization, including the qualifications necessary to be involved in this process.
The are major concerns of the well-being of the mother’s own life and the proper development of the babies, in the situation that Nadya Suleman presented (Johnston, Josephine, 2009). Should Nadya Suleman’s doctor approved the extensive treatments, possibly violating the guidelines, by implanting more than the “generally accepted number of embryos? ” (Hoppel, Ann M. , 2010). Is it fair to have allowed Nadya to continue having children, with the cost of raising a family, especially in today’s economic climate? (Hoppel, Ann M. , 2010).