Okay, I know this story has been run into the mud. There have been thousands of blogs, articles, and news stories about this lady and her eight babies, plus the six she already has at home. But coming from a big family myself (there were 12 of us), I felt compelled to reply to this crazy, unbelievable story. So, here it goes.
The ethical issues surrounding this story is overwhelming. First, you have the fertility clinic and doctor who knowingly implanted eight embryos into a woman who has filed bankruptcy, has no income, and has been living with her parents, whom have accumulated much debt and become bankrupt themselves trying to take care of the mother and her other six children, while she attends college. Then you have the mother, who has tremendous amount of problems (financially and mentally, as noted by her mother), decide to pursue multiple births. Not to mention, the physical damage the mother has inflicted upon her body. Now, this same woman is asking for $2 million to tell her story on national television.
While the media has caused a stir of panic over this supposedly overwhelming story of "medical triumph," as articulated in a MSNBC article, every day more facts about the birth mother come to the forefront that now makes us question our initial reaction of elation and support.
As Dr. Summer Johnson notes in her article, "Update: And Baby H Makes 8...No, 14":
"As the story over the California octuplets born this week has unraveled, the ethical issues surrounding their birth have expanded beyond those of just the health and welfare of the mother and 8 tiny little fetuses but to questions of social justice and the choice of the mother to have 8 more children, period."
Hailing from a big family myself, I know the difficulties of raising and caring for a numerous amount of children. I often wonder how my father and mother kept their insanity, let alone the clothes on their backs. I'm extremely proud to say that because of my father's pride, dedication, and committment to being the sole provider for his family, we never needed governmental assistance and we never went hungry, cold, or deprived of anything and everything we wanted. So, for the birth mother to assume these tremendous responsbilities without the financial and emotional support she needs (which she'll need plenty of), how will she take care of these 14 children? According to AOL News,
"Fox News crunched the numbers and announced that it will cost Suleman - and us! -- $35 million to raise these kids. And even fellow MOM (mom of multiples) Kate Gosselin of the TLC reality show "Jon & Kate Plus 8" has jumped in to criticize: "Personally, I would never have set out to even have a seventh child - especially if I was a single parent."" (http://news.aol.com/article/whats-the-octuplets-anger-really-about/328057#Comments)
Should the State of California's Department of Child Services step in to access this mother's living situation, as well as her mental state, before allowing her to go home with these babies? I mean, isn't it the duty of the State to ensure these children will be well cared for mentally, socially, and financially? What measures will the State take to investigate the fertility clinic who implanted the eight embryos, knowing the mother's situation?
And, now, knowing that the grandmother suggested mental healthcare for the mother who she believed unstable and obssessed with having children, should we even allow this mother to take these babies home from the hospital?:
"She always blamed me for having only her," Angela Suleman told the Web site. "...She was always upset that I didn't have more." Angela Suleman also told Us that Nadya first talked about having a large family when she was a teenager. "I have been supportive, but you know, now that I am thinking back, she wanted children so much that it was almost not normal as far as I am concerned," Suleman said, adding that she once consulted a mental health professional about the issue." (http://news.aol.com/article/octuplets-grandmother/328911)
Please forgive me if I am rambling, but after reading that the mother now wants to be paid to tell her story and give advice on being a mother, I could not contain myself any longer. According to Fox News,
"The mother of octuplets born in California last week is seeking $2 million from media interviews and commercial endorsements to help pay the costs of raising the children, the Times of London reported. Nadya Suleman, 33, plans a career as a television childcare expert...Although still confined to a Los Angeles hospital bed, Suleman reportedly intends to talk to two influential television hosts this week — media mogul Oprah Winfrey and Diane Sawyer.
Her family has told agents she needs cash from media deals." (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,486645,00.html)
So, now the mother is seeking fame from her medical miracle. I think I speak for everyone who pays taxes and will have to pay even more come April 15, please make sure this lady can have no more babies!
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2 comments:
What makes this woman think that anyone wants to see her on tv giving advice on how to raise kids (outside of the curiosity/freak-show factor)? If anyone wants further proof that she is delusional, there it is.
I never had an initial reaction of elation and support for this woman. I don't support this trend of multiple births for mothers who have babies by medical means. I don't feel that they should be rewarded by Oprah or tax dollars or anyone else. In light of world overpopulation, the environment, and everything else that is going on in the world, I find it quite offensive and irresponsible. The woman got what she wanted - her daily freak show on Entertainment Tonight. She behaves like a classic Borderline Personality Disorder patient, most of whom have been sexually or otherwise abused as children and young girls. Just because her mother says she is crazy doesn't make it so. Maybe her mother is crazy, too - how did she get that way in the first place? That story would be much more interesting.
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