» About 350,000 born per year: A solution that’s given parents everywhere a second chance has gone far beyond just being a medical novelty. Now it’s a commonplace procedure, one that’s gone far beyond the birth of Louise Brown, the first test-tube baby (now a mother herself). But, in vitro fertilization experts warn, it’s not a cure-all for pregnancies late in life. ”The subtext is that if people delay childbirth they may view IVF as an insurance policy that they can access at any stage,” says Stuart Lavery of London’s Hammersmith Hospital. “Unfortunately the facts still suggest that IVF success rates in women as they get older are not fantastic.”
Follow ShortFormBlog • Find us on Twitter & Facebook
Click the link to read the text of Astrue v. Capato, this morning’s Supreme Court decision that held that children conceived and born from in vitro fertilization after their father’s death are not allowed the right to survivor’s benefits from Social Security. Unanimous decision, with the opinion written by Ruth Bader Ginsburg. (minor edit)
» Why Robert Edwards won the prize: It wasn’t just for his pioneering spirit, though that helped. It was for the way that he followed his technique through and was able to allay moral concerns. “In retrospect, it is amazing that Edwards not only was able to respond to the continued criticism of in vitro fertilization, but that he also remained so persistent and unperturbed in fulfilling his scientific vision,” wrote Nobel Prize committee member Christer Höög.
Copyright 2009-2013 Ernie Smith • Ask us stuff! • E-mail us • Follow us on Twitter • Follow us on Facebook
