This story annoys me to no end. An Australian woman is suing her doctor and embryologist because after a series of IVF treatments, she got twins instead of a singleton. She’s suing for approximately $300,000–the estimated cost of raising a second child, including private school tuition and an additional $13,000 for unexpected medical expenses.
The woman and her partner say they were devastated when they found out they were expecting twins rather than just one baby and had seriously considered putting one up for adoption. How on earth you choose which one is beyond me.
IVF Ignorance?
I suppose in a land where the doctors did not tell you anything or explain anything–I could see this lawsuit as legitimate. But am I supposed to believe that the embryologist actually implanted two embryos without their knowledge? Implanting more than one in the hopes that just one will ‘take’ is a common practice in IVF to my understanding. I am sure that the woman and her partner knew that there was a possibility that both babies would ‘stick’ and that they could end up having twins. But apparently they felt like the possibility of not getting one baby if they only implanted one embryo outweighed the possibility of having twins. Until they actually ended up with twins.
Just Be Grateful and Be Quiet
As harsh as it sounds, I cannot understand these people. Perhaps they can read our frugal blog and learn how to save money. Or perhaps they can read one of the numerous articles I’ve written on breastfeeding and then they can feed the girls for free for awhile. As a mother of twins, I totally understand that twins hit the budget hard. It’s amazing to me how much adding two at a time can crunch your family budget.
All the same there are people going through the same difficult IVF treatments who are praying and hoping to just get one. So seriously folks, be grateful and be quiet.