February 12, 2009 5:44 AM
- Text
Fertility Doc Faces Scrutiny
(CBS)
The medical mystery surrounding 33-year-old Nadya Suleman's fertility treatments has been solved. Suleman says all her in vitro fertilizations, which resulted in the recent birth of octuplets, plus six other children, were done at the West Coast IVF Clinic in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Dr. Michael Kamrava is the clinic director, and, as CBS News correspondent Sandra Hughes reports, outside his office late Monday he didn't want to talk.
In a 2006 interview, Suleman credited the doctor for the birth of her other children -- she has six between the ages of 2 and 7 -- three are reportedly disabled.
"Without the doctor, I wouldn't have any children, so that's what's amazing about it," Suleman said.
But questions have been raised about her financial ability to care for all 14. Her publicist admits she's getting $490 a month in food stamps and federal assistance for the disabled children -- something she denied.
"And no, I am not receiving help from the government -- there's nothing wrong with that -- but I am not trying to expect anything from anybody," Suleman said. "I just wanted to do it on my own."
Speculation is running rampant on the Internet that she's also spent money on plastic surgery -- noting her resemblance to actress Angelina Jolie. Her publicist denies she's had plastic surgery -- botox included.
The California Medical Board says it is investigating the doctor who implanted Suleman, but didn't name Kamrava. The consequences could range from a reprimand to loss of medical license.
Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg, who has known Kamrava professionally for some 20 years, spoke with Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith about his colleague.
"Prior to this case he's been considered a respected part of the fertility community," Steinberg noted. "Humble, well qualified and really wouldn't raise an eyebrow among us."
"And knowing what we know now?" Smith asked.
"Well, concerned. We, again, don't want to jump to conclusions, but some of the details that are coming together distress us," Steinberg said.
"Do you have a responsibility in your world to ascertain the mental health of a patient who comes to you for treatment?" Smith asked.
Yes, we do. It's pretty much part of our standard protocol. People who come to us are oftentimes in a high-stress situation, they've been trying to get pregnant, we can offer assistance, but it takes a toll on people emotionally, and part of our job is to determine that toll," Steinberg said.
"Six children, no visible means of support. Are there not some ethical questions that have to be asked?" Smith noted.
"Clearly there are. These are part of the things we ascertain when working with a patient and how to help them," Steinberg said. "Stress itself is an infertility cause."
"So in a normal procedure, how many eggs would be implanted?" Smith asked.
"Normally, with her past history -- and again, I'm hearing bits and pieces -- it sounds like she's been successful in the past," Steinberg noted. "One or two is what we would normally go with."
"And in your wildest imagination, why would Dr. Kamrava have implanted that many eggs?" Smith asked.
"You know, we're all wrestling with the problem," Steinberg said. "Every decision about embryo transfer is agonizing for a physician and patient. We really can't figure out what was going on. We haven't heard the whole story. And we're going to need to know re. I wouldn't jump to a conclusion, but we are concerned."
"If you were Dr. Kamrava, would you be concerned about the status of your medical license?" Smith asked.
"I think there's reason for alarm," Steinberg said. "Again, I wouldn't jump to conclusions. I don't think any laws were broken. However, there is some reason to take a close look at what's going on."
Dr. Michael Kamrava is the clinic director, and, as CBS News correspondent Sandra Hughes reports, outside his office late Monday he didn't want to talk.
In a 2006 interview, Suleman credited the doctor for the birth of her other children -- she has six between the ages of 2 and 7 -- three are reportedly disabled.
"Without the doctor, I wouldn't have any children, so that's what's amazing about it," Suleman said.
But questions have been raised about her financial ability to care for all 14. Her publicist admits she's getting $490 a month in food stamps and federal assistance for the disabled children -- something she denied.
"And no, I am not receiving help from the government -- there's nothing wrong with that -- but I am not trying to expect anything from anybody," Suleman said. "I just wanted to do it on my own."
Speculation is running rampant on the Internet that she's also spent money on plastic surgery -- noting her resemblance to actress Angelina Jolie. Her publicist denies she's had plastic surgery -- botox included.
The California Medical Board says it is investigating the doctor who implanted Suleman, but didn't name Kamrava. The consequences could range from a reprimand to loss of medical license.
Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg, who has known Kamrava professionally for some 20 years, spoke with Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith about his colleague.
"Prior to this case he's been considered a respected part of the fertility community," Steinberg noted. "Humble, well qualified and really wouldn't raise an eyebrow among us."
"And knowing what we know now?" Smith asked.
"Well, concerned. We, again, don't want to jump to conclusions, but some of the details that are coming together distress us," Steinberg said.
"Do you have a responsibility in your world to ascertain the mental health of a patient who comes to you for treatment?" Smith asked.
Yes, we do. It's pretty much part of our standard protocol. People who come to us are oftentimes in a high-stress situation, they've been trying to get pregnant, we can offer assistance, but it takes a toll on people emotionally, and part of our job is to determine that toll," Steinberg said.
"Six children, no visible means of support. Are there not some ethical questions that have to be asked?" Smith noted.
"Clearly there are. These are part of the things we ascertain when working with a patient and how to help them," Steinberg said. "Stress itself is an infertility cause."
"So in a normal procedure, how many eggs would be implanted?" Smith asked.
"Normally, with her past history -- and again, I'm hearing bits and pieces -- it sounds like she's been successful in the past," Steinberg noted. "One or two is what we would normally go with."
"And in your wildest imagination, why would Dr. Kamrava have implanted that many eggs?" Smith asked.
"You know, we're all wrestling with the problem," Steinberg said. "Every decision about embryo transfer is agonizing for a physician and patient. We really can't figure out what was going on. We haven't heard the whole story. And we're going to need to know re. I wouldn't jump to a conclusion, but we are concerned."
"If you were Dr. Kamrava, would you be concerned about the status of your medical license?" Smith asked.
"I think there's reason for alarm," Steinberg said. "Again, I wouldn't jump to conclusions. I don't think any laws were broken. However, there is some reason to take a close look at what's going on."
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