Medical Ethics in the New Century – In Vitro Fertilization

First Law of Medicine Do No Harm!! Do No Harm!! What is harm? What is harm? Harm who? Harm who? Harm now or harm later? Harm now or harm later?

Nadya Suleman Gave birth to Octuplets January 26 th in California

Background Current mother of 6 Current mother of 6 Divorced Divorced Unemployed Unemployed Medical condition does not allow her to get out of bed due to a bad back Medical condition does not allow her to get out of bed due to a bad back Income paid by state of California Income paid by state of California

Procedure Done at same hospital Done at same hospital 6 embryos implanted 6 embryos implanted Children delivered early Children delivered early All children still alive All children still alive Success? Success?

Murky Waters – Harm vs. Rights # of embryos implanted # of embryos implanted Parent rights to reproduce Parent rights to reproduce Parents rights to provide for children Parents rights to provide for children Clinic’s options to refuse care Clinic’s options to refuse care Doctor’s options to refuse care Doctor’s options to refuse care Government rights Government rights

Murky Waters – Harm vs. Rights State/Federal money used on procedure – does this change rights? State/Federal money used on procedure – does this change rights? Mother’s sole income is welfare – does this change rights? Mother’s sole income is welfare – does this change rights? Mother unable to work – does this change rights? Mother unable to work – does this change rights? Does society have a right to make laws over a woman’s body? Does society have a right to make laws over a woman’s body?

Murky Waters – Harm vs. Rights Ability/lack of ability to provide for family – does this change rights? Ability/lack of ability to provide for family – does this change rights? Religion – Does the debate run into this field as well? Religion – Does the debate run into this field as well?

Our Generation’s Question As science advances, and we are able to do more and more procedures, the question shifts from can we do this to should we do this. As science advances, and we are able to do more and more procedures, the question shifts from can we do this to should we do this.