The octuplets

[Pappy]

Personally, I think everyone who has participated in this dispicable discussion prior to 0528 CDST, February 11, 2009 should be banned for life! (Or 13 seconds, whichever comes first)

Excepting, of course, our esteemed Moderators who are, as we all know, above and beyond reproach.

On a real note, the woman acted irresponsibly. Whether she really wanted the children, was looking for the fame/notoriety, or had some monetary motivation only she really knkows. The victims down the road are going to be the survivng octuplets, and their 6 siblings, because the attention from the media will prevent them from having normal childhoods.

[BobSch]

This will probably get me flamed, but I think the doc should have tied her tubes, not fertilize her.

That woman needs her head candled.

[crokett]

The vast majority of Coffee Pot threads are simply entertainment or boring (to some) off topic discussions such as the ones dealing with writing code, software, applications, hardware and the like. Most are productive in that they offer amusement or an opportunity to get answers not even remotely related to woodworking.

Hey! Who says that writing code isn't interesting? Maybe BT3Central needs a separate discussion for Geek stuff.....

[Schleeper]

This will probably get me flamed, but I think the doc should have tied her tubes, not fertilize her.

That woman needs her head candled.

Bob, I understand the sterilization reference, but what the heck is candling, and how's a person supposed to know whether they need it or not?

Also, how do I get me one of them "Platinum Patron" stickers for my windshield?

[vaking]

I also believe that bringing children to this world without having means to raise them is irresponsible. And I also believe that "money talks". Having said that I think that Medicare, Medicaid and other government-financed medical plans should not be covering fertility treatment. Doctor and/or hospital that created this mess should pay medical expenses for both the fertility treatment as well as couple years of medical support for the family of octuplets. This will bring this trend to a very hard stop. I don't think there will be a next time when "shopping for the doctor" will be succesfull.

[Alex Franke]

...Coffee Pot threads are simply entertainment or boring (to some) off topic discussions such as the ones dealing with writing code, software, applications, hardware and the like.

Hey! Who you calling boring???

On a real note, the woman acted irresponsibly. Whether she really wanted the children, was looking for the fame/notoriety, or had some monetary motivation only she really knkows.

I agree with germdoc that it's really sticky business. It's also a slippery slope.

I don't know a lot of the details, but I think her fertility clinic could very well among the irresponsible parties. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[430752]

This will certainly be a topic for moral philosophers for years to come. On the one hand, how stupid a decision was this. Irresponsible certainly comes to mind. On the other hand, many people believe you shouldn't kill children, even if not born. And an embryo ain't nothing but a fetus but for age, and a fetus ain't nothing but a child, but for age. She had embryos which she didn't want destroyed.

In a odd result of turnabout, the question thus becomes when is it a woman's right to have children her own and when is it another's? (compare to when is it a woman's right not to have children her own and when is it another's?) Since a discussion such as this would neccessarily go into politics, religion, etc. I'm not at all going to go any further, and likely no one else should, just laying out the moral quandry this woman and her actions pose for the world to answer - at some other coffee pot.

[Hellrazor]

Bob, I understand the sterilization reference, but what the heck is candling, and how's a person supposed to know whether they need it or not?

I think he was looking for brains.


http://www.nifty-stuff.com/candling-eggs.php

[ragswl4]

I also believe that bringing children to this world without having means to raise them is irresponsible. And I also believe that "money talks". Having said that I think that Medicare, Medicaid and other government-financed medical plans should not be covering fertility treatment. Doctor and/or hospital that created this mess should pay medical expenses for both the fertility treatment as well as couple years of medical support for the family of octuplets. This will bring this trend to a very hard stop. I don't think there will be a next time when "shopping for the doctor" will be succesfull.

Your hammer is dead accurate. Hit the nail directly on the head and drove it home in one blow. As I am a resident of The Peoples Republik of Kalifornia I will comment no further for fear of raising my blood pressure beyond the critical limit on this issue and risk being flamed for what I would say although it is tempting, very tempting.

[TB Roye]

I agree and can't respond any farther or I would probably be banned from BT3 Central. Bad thing is it is not going to get any better in California. Wish I would have moved out when my Kids did.

Tom

[BobSch]

Bob, I understand the sterilization reference, but what the heck is candling, and how's a person supposed to know whether they need it or not?

Just slang for having her head examined.

Candling as in candling eggs —shining a bright light through a egg to check that it's OK.

[Schleeper]

I say live and let live, unless...

Just slang for having her head examined.

Candling as in candling eggs —shining a bright light through a egg to check that it's OK.

With all the chickens they produce in Delaware, I probably should have known that.

Frankly, I couldn't care less how many babies this woman has. As far as I'm concerned, she can do whatever she wants, provided that her fist never makes contact with my face, and she keeps her hands out of my pockets. (Unfortunately it's too late ; she's already got both hands in, up to the shoulders!)

[TB Roye]

Heard on the new last night, that she the doctor and her attorney have received death threats. Also on the news that someone in Ohio has offered their farm for her to live on. The father of all 14 kids is her boy friend who she refuses to marry. I wonder if he is paying child support or even works. This story get crazier all the time. She supposedly is on disabiliy and two of the older kids are disabled and on SS. There is no way she will ever be able to hold a job and support herself and the kids, even grandma is bailing out.
Where ever she goes to live and raise her kids the Gov. is going to support her, which means you and I.

Tom

[Schleeper]

Heard on the new last night, that she the doctor and her attorney have received death threats. Also on the news that someone in Ohio has offered their farm for her to live on. The father of all 14 kids is her boy friend who she refuses to marry. I wonder if he is paying child support or even works. This story get crazier all the time. She supposedly is on disabiliy and two of the older kids are disabled and on SS. There is no way she will ever be able to hold a job and support herself and the kids, even grandma is bailing out.
Where ever she goes to live and raise her kids the Gov. is going to support her, which means you and I.

Tom

Yep, it's hard to imagine it getting much crazier, but now we have morons making threatening calls, forcing local law enforcement to get involved. No problem; just add it to the taxpayers' tab!

I haven't checked it out (and have no intention of doing so,) but she apparently has a web site. Sending her money is easier than ever, because now she accepts Paypal. (I kid you not!)

Frankly, I'm a little surprised that we haven't seen any special interest groups rising to this woman's defense, yet. Think about it. People all over the world are now talking about her, and the media's going to be monitoring her and her brood for years and years to come. Surely that kind of publicity should be attractive to at least one far-left or far-right, Pro-this or Anti-that, fringe organization! Or maybe this is even too bizarre for them.

[ragswl4]

Heard on the news yesterday that the Fertility Doc also implanted another woman with 4 embriyos and she is 5 months along with quadruplets. She has no health insurance, no job and has been assigned bed rest until the babies are born. Sound familiar. Oh, yeah she is apparently in her late 40s and single.