Hi, Ron Gold checking in.
The debate surrounding fertility drugs was rekindled when Nadya Suleman, better known as the crazy octuplet lady, gave birth to her litter in late January. We now know that she is single, unemployed, already has six children, and is rumored to have unhealthy psychological urges to have many children. The thought of her having one more baby is frightening, let alone eight.
To top it off, her father made this remark in an interview with Oprah: “I say to everybody now, people, we do need help. Do not punish my daughter for what she had done and do not punish the babies, because they were given by God.”
Really, they were given by God? Wouldn’t it be more accurate to say they were given by unethical doctors pushing fertility drugs and science run amok?
This whole situation is reminiscent of the McCaughey septuplets, who were born in 1997. This was a huge story at the time and put the fertility drug debate on the map. The McCaugheys were deeply religious, and when they found out that they were expecting seven babies, they said they would put the pregnancy “in God’s hands,” since they did not want to play God.
I found this statement very strange. Mrs. McCaughey, like Mrs. Suleman, was infertile. Pretending for the moment that there is a God, wouldn’t this be the ultimate signal that He doesn’t want you to reproduce? It’s not that I’m opposed to fertility drugs, but I see a contradiction in this case. The McCaugheys didn’t want to play God, yet they still underwent a new, high-tech scientific procedure that was akin to “playing God.”
Furthermore, our species have not evolved in such a way where we can safely give birth to several babies at a time. Most of the McCaughey septuplets weighed less than three pounds at birth, and two of them have cerebral palsy. The smallest of Suleman’s babies weighted 1 lb. 8 0z at birth. She’s extremely lucky they all survived.
The science has changed since 1997, and Suleman’s doctors were almost surely more irresponsible that the doctors of the septuplets. But whatever one’s motivation — whether it’s due to having a probable mental condition (Suleman) or only being a religious fanatic (The McCaugheys) — no one should be giving birth by the litter. Science tells us that it’s unnatural and dangerous, and it’s an affront to a hypothetical God.
To top it off, her father made this remark in an interview with Oprah: “I say to everybody now, people, we do need help. Do not punish my daughter for what she had done and do not punish the babies, because they were given by God.”
Really, they were given by God? Wouldn’t it be more accurate to say they were given by unethical doctors pushing fertility drugs and science run amok?
This whole situation is reminiscent of the McCaughey septuplets, who were born in 1997. This was a huge story at the time and put the fertility drug debate on the map. The McCaugheys were deeply religious, and when they found out that they were expecting seven babies, they said they would put the pregnancy “in God’s hands,” since they did not want to play God.
I found this statement very strange. Mrs. McCaughey, like Mrs. Suleman, was infertile. Pretending for the moment that there is a God, wouldn’t this be the ultimate signal that He doesn’t want you to reproduce? It’s not that I’m opposed to fertility drugs, but I see a contradiction in this case. The McCaugheys didn’t want to play God, yet they still underwent a new, high-tech scientific procedure that was akin to “playing God.”
Furthermore, our species have not evolved in such a way where we can safely give birth to several babies at a time. Most of the McCaughey septuplets weighed less than three pounds at birth, and two of them have cerebral palsy. The smallest of Suleman’s babies weighted 1 lb. 8 0z at birth. She’s extremely lucky they all survived.
The science has changed since 1997, and Suleman’s doctors were almost surely more irresponsible that the doctors of the septuplets. But whatever one’s motivation — whether it’s due to having a probable mental condition (Suleman) or only being a religious fanatic (The McCaugheys) — no one should be giving birth by the litter. Science tells us that it’s unnatural and dangerous, and it’s an affront to a hypothetical God.