Woman sues doctor for cost of raising 2nd child after IVF gave her twins

Laurent · September 19th, 2007, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Mom sues after IVF brings 2 babies instead of 1
Australian woman seeks $332,000 to cover cost of raising extra child
Updated: 3:43 p.m. CT Sept 18, 2007

CANBERRA, Australia - An Australian woman who gave birth to twins instead of a single baby after receiving in-vitro fertilization has sued her doctor for the cost of bringing up the second child.

The woman, who cannot be identified because of a court order, is seeking more than 400,000 Australian dollars (US $332,000) to cover the expense of raising one child until age 21.

Testifying in the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory on Tuesday, the 40-year-old mother said she told her doctor, Robert Armellin, that she only wanted one child. But an embryologist under the doctor's supervision implanted two embryos in her uterus, resulting in the birth of non-identical twin girls.

The woman told the court that she and her partner were devastated when they learned she was carrying twins, and had even considered putting one of the babies up for adoption.

She said that while she enjoyed some aspects of her pregnancy, such as decorating the girls' nursery, other parts were distressing, including purchasing a stroller, or pram.

"It was like the last frontier of acceptance to spend hundreds of dollars on a pram," she said.

The couple, whose combined income exceeds A$100,000 (US $82,875), are seeking A$398,000 (US $329,000) to cover the costs of raising one of the girls, including private school fees. They also want around A$15,000 (US $12,427) to compensate them for time off work and medical expenses.

Mom sues after IVF brings 2 babies instead of 1 - Pregnancy - MSNBC.com

**Tati** · September 19th, 2007, 11:07 AM

Oh for fuck's sake, you fucking dumb fuck. Fuck, this pisses me off. You can't POSSIBLY tell me that she didn't sign some shit that said she understood this could happen with IVF. And why didn't she just go ahead and put the "extra" baby up for adoption? Nobody forced her to keep it.

Quote:

She said that while she enjoyed some aspects of her pregnancy, such as decorating the girls' nursery, other parts were distressing, including purchasing a stroller, or pram.

"It was like the last frontier of acceptance to spend hundreds of dollars on a pram," she said.

Huh?

MrsMarsters · September 19th, 2007, 11:35 AM

Maybe this nutball shouldn't have a child.

SVZ · September 19th, 2007, 11:40 AM

Good lord! What an idiot

TheMoog · September 19th, 2007, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tati

Oh for fuck's sake, you fucking dumb fuck. Fuck, this pisses me off. You can't POSSIBLY tell me that she didn't sign some shit that said she understood this could happen with IVF. And why didn't she just go ahead and put the "extra" baby up for adoption? Nobody forced her to keep it.

Huh?

You said it for me!

I think IQ tests should be given along with the IVF paperwork.....

Sweetie · September 19th, 2007, 11:59 AM

Another short bus passenger.

Laxmobster · September 19th, 2007, 02:28 PM

How ungrateful... Aren't IVF treatments really expensive also?

So they had the money to get the treatments, yet when their dream actually comes true they get angry because it was too many kids. I have to keep re-reading it because it still doesn't make sense to me.

I waiting for more info like one of the embryos wasn't even hers...

Skiminims · September 19th, 2007, 04:04 PM

Wow...just..wow

Like someone else said earlier, surely the doctor told her that there was a chance of having more than one child.

If I were her I would be absolutely thrilled to have been able to get pregnant at all. Not all IVF's are successful.

Beeyotch · September 19th, 2007, 04:10 PM

Well, the way I read it makes it seem like the doctor was negligent for accidentally implanting 2 embryos instead of the agreed-upon one embryo. Sort of like suing a plastic surgeon for giving you boobs 1 cup bigger than you asked? It's NOT what you asked for and it was well within the doctor's control to give you one child, so he's at fault. Is this accurate, is implanting 2 embryos instead of 1 a legitimate cause of negligence or is it part of the risk of IVF that they warn you about and make you agree to ahead of time that you understand and accept the risk?

DeChayz · September 19th, 2007, 04:11 PM

Don't they normally implant more than one because of the high odds that at least one will not take?

Saery · September 19th, 2007, 05:04 PM

I know of several doctors who won't implant less than two because there is a high chance that at least one of the embryo transfers won't be successful. And, yes, IVF is very expensive--around $10,000 per attempt in the US and most insurance companies will not cover fertility treatments so it's all out of pocket.

This story irritates me. There are couples out there who would do anything to have one healthy baby, let alone twins.

travelbug · September 19th, 2007, 05:11 PM

Yes, I had a friend who had IVF and had twins and it was a great thing, two for the price of one!

Sure, twins are more difficult at first but most people who want children in the first place want more than one.

The bitch should shut up and put one of the twins up for adoption if she really doesn't feel financially able to support it.

western · September 19th, 2007, 05:27 PM

How nice for these little girls to grow up and know that one of them was wanted and cherished and the other was a huge mistake costing them thousands of dollars.

With the kind of income they already have they can afford two children quite easily. I've seen families on less than a quarter of that raise several children. Just don't buy the brand-name stroller! Send the kids to public school, if private is so special you foot the bill yourself!

Yeesh. It's not like they didn't know they were expecting twins. They could have had a reduction and they could have gone through with an adoption. They chose to keep the second child, therefore they chose to accept everything that comes with her.

A*O · September 19th, 2007, 05:28 PM

Here's a link to a longer article about this case and the issues arising from it. Sounds like she can't hack motherhood and her lesbian partner is feeling left out. More abuse of IVF and the nutters who don't deserve it.

IVF, twins and the law - In Depth - theage.com.au

sweetrebel · September 19th, 2007, 05:28 PM

I do believe that you are informed how many embryos are implanted. I thought everyone with a half an ounce of sense knew that there is a high possibility of multiple birth with IVF.
And, I know that at some point early in the pregnancy she was told she was having twins...on some of the programs that I have watched, couples who were facing multiples are given the option of selective reduction of the embryos. She could have done the same...
Idiot-instead of being thankful for what she has, she wants to SUE someone...