The California octuplets and the duties of reproductive endocrinologists

The recent birth of octuplets unleashed a firestorm of publicity, casting a harsh light on the mother and her presumed inadequacies as a parent. It also raised questions about the role of reproductive endocrinologists. Herein we consider 3 aspects of this question: should reproductive endocrinologists consider the economic interests of society, should they consider parenting abilities, and should the number of embryos transferred be limited? We conclude that the ethical obligation of reproductive endocrinologists does not extend to protection of society's economic interests; that reproductive endocrinologists, although poorly trained and situated to gauge an individual's ability to parent, can in extreme circumstances refuse to provide assisted reproductive technology; and that a firm limit on the number of transferred embryos is ethically and medically appropriate.

Key words: assisted reproductive technology, ethics, octuplets, reproductive endocrinology