Ethics take center stage at fertility conference

By Michael Kahn

BARCELONA (Reuters) - A U.S. researcher's argument that twins should be the goal of in vitro fertilization drew opposition from many researchers on Monday who warned of the risks of multiple pregnancies.

Presenting a study at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, Norbert Gleicher said twins are a solution for infertile couples who want more than one child.

His review of previous studies found that it is cheaper for couples to have twins because it can cut the number of treatments and the risk is not significantly greater for mother and child.

"For infertile patients, desirous of more than one child, twin deliveries represent a favorable, cost effective and ethical treatment outcome, which in contrast to current medical consensus, should be encourage," Norbet, of the Center for Human Reproduction, in New York said.

Many experts disagreed. A statement issued by committee members at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology said Geichler's study does not deal with, among other issues, increased late losses with multiple pregnancies.

The group also criticized what it called a failure to mention financial costs to the parents of twins and to healthcare systems involved in caring for a mother and her children.

"It does not deal at all with increased late losses of multiple pregnancy," said the statement signed by Francoise Shenfield of University College, London and Peter Braude of Guy's Hospital in London.

"It is not reasonable to equate two single-spaced pregnancies with twins; being up all night with newly born twins, the doubling of the initial outlay costs, and the significant stresses of bringing up two toddlers are all material."