Nadya Suleman's fertility doctor may lose license

[newest_gloss]

A state deputy attorney general asks the Medical Board of California to reject an administrative law judge's recommendation that Michael Kamrava be placed on probation. The doctor's license could be revoked.

By Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times

Comments

[subluxate]

I don't think he should lose his license, necessarily. I do think probation is appropriate, however, for failing to follow up on the abnormal biopsy. Ovarian cancer kills. That shouldn't be taken lightly.

[hey_feygele]

This is upsetting to me both in terms of reproductive freedom & bodily autonomy as well as patient autonomy.

It's devastating to spend all that time and money on an IVF cycle where a "safe" amount of embryos are transferred, only to have those 2 or 3 embryos fail to stick. I can absolutely see why a woman would opt to have such a high number of embryos transferred at a time, despite the risk to her & the pregnancy should they all somehow successfully implant in a feat of statistical and biological improbability bordering on the miraculous. And even if it's not a decision I would make myself, she obviously (at least, I thought it was obvious) has the right not to terminate any of the fetuses if that's her informed decision.

The whole red herring about the missed biopsy results is really freaking sad, but a single medical error that was correctly reported is not the sort of thing people normally lose their licenses over. Get sued over, yeah, but not lose their licenses.

[hey_feygele]

Also, I realize that a large component of medical ethics is informed by the pretty patronizing concept of beneficence and the guy's just trying to make his case the best he can for his client, but this quote --

He said the case involved an "unusual patient who didn't do what she was asked to do in terms of fetal reduction," or terminating some of the fetuses.

-- struck me as kind of ridiculous and patronizing. The sentiment could have been presented as a bold affirmation of a patient's right to refuse a strongly recommended surgical procedure despite having received and understood all the education provided to her by her concerned physician. Instead it comes off like they are blaming the woman for not being a good patient by not shutting up and just doing what her doctor told her to.

[hearthand]

Have you seen any of the documentaries on "Octomum"? They seem to follow the same thread of opinion in some subtle way that the mother was negligent in some way by not terminating some of the implanted foetuses.

[hey_feygele]

I don't know if I would call it negligent exactly -- to me that carries some creepy pro-life baggage where the well-being of a fetus is worth more than the well-being of the mother -- but her decision certainly flew in the face of reason. I personally think she made a terribly stupid and risky decision. But, wtf, it's still her decision to make.

[poehleroid]

It looks to me as though he was practicing risky procedures that were dangerous, but the publicity of Suleman brought attention to it.

[bestdaywelived]

As a doctor, Kamrava has a responsibility to uphold the Hippocratic Oath; "first, do no harm" is how it starts. He did a lot of harm to several women with his frankly irresponsible fertility treatments.

I don't think that reproductive choice in this country covers doctors using every possible requested fertility treatment on a person in the face of safety, logic, and generally accepted best practices in the industry. A person can't obtain an amputation even if they really, really want one and feel that their true self is an amputee.

I also find it reprehensible but not shocking that a fertility medicine doctor would be so reckless and irresponsible with women's help. IMO, a lot of fertility medicine is taking advantage of women's desire to procreate and many of these women could have been freaking desperate to conceive and wholly at his mercy.

[maynardsong]

Agreed with everything you say here.

[columbasimplex]

This is an excellent point, as well. I'm seeing quite cogent points made on BOTH sides of the issue. Just speaking for myself to satisfy my own nosiness, ha: Where do you think "the line," as it were should be drawn, and what levels of sanctions should follow crossing those lines?

[astragali]

Wow, paternalistic much? I've done IVF, and while I did very much want a baby, I never gave up my agency or my ability to make decisions about my own body. Your implication that a woman seeking infertility treatment is analogous to body dysmorphia is really offensive as well.