Saturday, February 14, 2009

The Octuplets, Part 1

Here's CBS on the now-infamous octuplets:

The mother of newborn octuplets and six other children collected almost $168,000 in state disability payments for an on-the-job back injury that she and a doctor said was worsened by pregnancy, according to state documents released Thursday.
Nadya Suleman, 33, became pregnant with all 14 of her children after a 1999 injury during a riot at a state mental hospital where she worked, state Division of Workers' Compensation documents show. She stopped working, but had the six older children during that time, notes Early Show correspondent Hattie Kauffman.
"There has to be some question," says CBS News Legal Analyst Trent Copeland, "about whether or not a woman who's disabled and collecting over $150,000 worth of disability payments is really authorized to receive those payments if she's too disabled to work, but not too disabled to have at least a half-dozen children."

But wait, there's more !

Experts say America needs legal restrictions, like some European countries have. "I really do think we need laws setting limits on the number of embryos implanted," said law professor Lori Andrews. Chung added: "The difficult part on putting restrictions on the number of embryos transferred is that it will limit the ability of the physician and the couple to individualize the care." But it's how to care for these 14 children that has so many concerned right now.

And even more, from The Pasadena Star-News !

The birth of octuplets to a Whittier woman could spur the creation of new state laws regulating in vitro fertilization.
State Sen. Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley, is considering introducing legislation that would prohibit the state from paying medical bills for multiples born using IVF and would regulate fertility procedures themselves to prevent multiple births.
"He's got a very big concern about the cost to taxpayers," said Aanestad spokesman Bill Bird.


Let's contrast all of the clamoring for more laws, more regulation, and more government interference in just about everything, with this next gem. Sorry, but I'm requring you to click here. Get back to me.

1) What would be the proper level of government interference in the life of the admittedly loony octuplet mom, vs. any person impacted by the last example?

2) Name 3 politicians you would trust to get it right.

1 comment:

Dr Ralph said...

Interesting that this flies in the face of the stereotype of the "welfare queen" who does nothing but get pregnant and collect public assistance.

The woman needs to find a different hobby.