Over recent years medical research has pointed out the benefits of reducing the number of embryos transferred during the IVF cycle with a marked reduction in the number of higher order multiple births. ORLANDO, FL, February 22, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Egg Donation and Surrogacy Professional Association (EDSPA), as a multidisciplinary organization that promotes cooperation, education and professional ethics in the matters of gestational carriers, traditional surrogacy, egg, sperm and embryo donation, and related areas, would like to support the further investigation by the medical and legal community into the circumstances surrounding the conception of the octuplets and ethical practices that were involved.
Over the last decade, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) have worked diligently to reduce the number of high order multiple births resulting from IVF treatments. They have produced guidelines restricting the number of embryos transferred during IVF. Published research confirms that these guidelines have led to fewer embryos being transferred and a marked reduction in the number of high order multiple births.
EDSPA Board of Directors:
Robert T. Terenzio, Esq., Chairman of the Board
Evelina Weidman Sterling, Chair Education/Consulting
Souad Dreyfus, Chair Egg Donation
Sharon LaMothe, Chair Surrogacy
Andrea Bryman, LMFT, Chair Medical/Psychology
Marna Gatlin, Chair Non-Profit
Theresa M Erickson, Esq., Chair Member at Large
About EDSPA
The Egg Donation and Surrogacy Professional Association accomplishes it's mission by providing a forum for education, communication and advocacy on behalf of patients, physicians, attorneys, agencies and affiliated professionals in the field of Third Party Family Formation.
Showing posts with label EDSPA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EDSPA. Show all posts
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The attitude of entitlement or just poor judgement? 'Tuplet Mom and the IVF Fiasco
I was going to stay far away from commenting on the new Mom of octuplets (BTW that word isn't even on my spell check!) But I feel compelled to weigh in. Nadya Suleman is now the mom of 14. She could, just as easily, been the mom of 7 or 8 if those 6 embryos hadn't split and each and every one hadn't grown into an individual baby. And now they are born and every single person who hears this story is appalled. With the exception of Nadya Suleman. Although she couldn't take care of the first 6 children without the help of food stamps and disability checks (coming in for three of the previous children) and apparently student loans, yet she somehow found the money for the medications and the IVF procedures that have catapulted her into the media's front line with a bang. Eight little bangs I should say.
Ok....what would have happened if Nadya Suleman's IVF procedure had only produced twins or even triplets? I don't think it would have been a blip on the reproductive radar. Certainly not competing for air time along with the new stimulus package and massive fires in Australia! Would anyone really have cared about the fact that this new mom couldn't take care of what she already had? I doubt it. I bet her RE wished that she didn't even darken his door! Perhaps he didn't think all of the embryos had a prayer quality wise. Or Perhaps he wanted to boost his stats. I don't have enough information to judge. But now he and his practice is also under scrutiny as he should be.
I take you back to a post I did, in November I believe, when I returned from the ASRM conference in San Francisco. I was in line to register and was talking to one RE while another Dr, was listening in. I mentioned that I had been a surrogate mother twice and gave birth to two sets of twins. The Dr, who was listening asked how many embryos were transferred and I told him 3 each time. He was instantly disgusted and any Dr, who would transfer 3 embryos as a time! The older RE then asked how old I was for each transfer and I told him at the time of transfer 36 for the first set of twins and 40 for the second....well that did clear the air a bit because there ARE guide lines regarding how many embryos should be transferred depending on the age of the woman. Obviously these ASRM (American Society of Reproductive Medicine) guidelines were not followed in the case of Nadya Suleman.
And because of that fact, we (and I say WE as in the tax payers) have 8 preemies hanging out in CA while the world debates how the US reproductive industry could have allowed THIS to happen! Well folks, we have no regulation. We have guidelines, we have associations and reproductive societies but we don't have the type of regulation that other countries have. Nor do I think that would be the answer. EDSPA, the Egg Donation and Surrogacy Professional Association, is one place where self regulation is being discussed. I believe the ASRM is also a place that has its members practicing self regulation as well as other groups out there. BUT no one can control what one RE is doing. Or Surrogacy/Egg Donation agency or Embryo Donation agency for that matter.
There is a cry out there that says why didn't someone send Nadya Suleman to a psychiatrist. Its common that a surrogate or egg donor have a psychological evaluation but not Intended Parents who are infertile. It doesn't make much sense to have each and every IP who enters a facility with the notion of adding to their family through IVF to be psychologically evaluated (although a few visits with a mental health professional would be a good idea), it still would be prudent for the clinic staff to compile some back ground and use their common sense when choosing who to work with. And if they are unsure then maybe call in a psychologist for a 2nd opinion.
Back to my topic...sorry for the trip around the world....nothing can be done regarding Nadya Suleman. Her babies are here. But maybe we can all learn a lesson about "proceeding with caution" and, as professionals, knowing when to say NO.
Ok....what would have happened if Nadya Suleman's IVF procedure had only produced twins or even triplets? I don't think it would have been a blip on the reproductive radar. Certainly not competing for air time along with the new stimulus package and massive fires in Australia! Would anyone really have cared about the fact that this new mom couldn't take care of what she already had? I doubt it. I bet her RE wished that she didn't even darken his door! Perhaps he didn't think all of the embryos had a prayer quality wise. Or Perhaps he wanted to boost his stats. I don't have enough information to judge. But now he and his practice is also under scrutiny as he should be.
I take you back to a post I did, in November I believe, when I returned from the ASRM conference in San Francisco. I was in line to register and was talking to one RE while another Dr, was listening in. I mentioned that I had been a surrogate mother twice and gave birth to two sets of twins. The Dr, who was listening asked how many embryos were transferred and I told him 3 each time. He was instantly disgusted and any Dr, who would transfer 3 embryos as a time! The older RE then asked how old I was for each transfer and I told him at the time of transfer 36 for the first set of twins and 40 for the second....well that did clear the air a bit because there ARE guide lines regarding how many embryos should be transferred depending on the age of the woman. Obviously these ASRM (American Society of Reproductive Medicine) guidelines were not followed in the case of Nadya Suleman.
And because of that fact, we (and I say WE as in the tax payers) have 8 preemies hanging out in CA while the world debates how the US reproductive industry could have allowed THIS to happen! Well folks, we have no regulation. We have guidelines, we have associations and reproductive societies but we don't have the type of regulation that other countries have. Nor do I think that would be the answer. EDSPA, the Egg Donation and Surrogacy Professional Association, is one place where self regulation is being discussed. I believe the ASRM is also a place that has its members practicing self regulation as well as other groups out there. BUT no one can control what one RE is doing. Or Surrogacy/Egg Donation agency or Embryo Donation agency for that matter.
There is a cry out there that says why didn't someone send Nadya Suleman to a psychiatrist. Its common that a surrogate or egg donor have a psychological evaluation but not Intended Parents who are infertile. It doesn't make much sense to have each and every IP who enters a facility with the notion of adding to their family through IVF to be psychologically evaluated (although a few visits with a mental health professional would be a good idea), it still would be prudent for the clinic staff to compile some back ground and use their common sense when choosing who to work with. And if they are unsure then maybe call in a psychologist for a 2nd opinion.
Back to my topic...sorry for the trip around the world....nothing can be done regarding Nadya Suleman. Her babies are here. But maybe we can all learn a lesson about "proceeding with caution" and, as professionals, knowing when to say NO.
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