Aussie Medical Chief: Having Baby At 62 Selfish and Wrong

A 62-year-old woman gave birth after IVF treatment has sparked an ethical debate in Australia with a medical chief lashing out at the "selfish and wrong" decision.

The unidentified woman, whose partner is 78, gave birth to a girl by cesarean section at a private Melbourne hospital on August 1st, reports said, making her one of Australia's oldest new mothers.

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‘In Australia, there is no legal barrier to prevent older women undergoing IVF treatment, although many health providers will not treat anyone over 50 due to the risks involved.’

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Michael Gannon, an obstetrician and gynecologist who is president of the Australian Medical Association, took to Twitter to condemn the parents.

"Anyone thought ahead to its teens? Selfish, wrong," he tweeted, adding that there were "greater priorities in women's health".

"This is a rights issue. Consider rights of the child, society, taxpayer. Madness. Not designed to have kids in 60s," he said.

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He later told reporters there were safety issues with older women who became pregnant more at risk of diabetes, blood pressure problems, heart attacks, stroke and blood clots.

Channel Seven reported that the woman and her partner conceived through in vitro fertilization overseas, using a donor embryo.

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There is no legal barrier to prevent older women undergoing IVF treatment in Australia, although many providers will not treat anyone over 50 due to the risks involved.

Professor Gab Kovacs, a Melbourne gynecologist recognised as a pioneer in the development and success of IVF, criticised the woman's pregnancy as not being what the treatment was designed for.

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"Being pregnant (at 62) is dangerous to the mother and baby," he told the Melbourne Age.

"She might have had high blood pressure, which is much more common at a later age. She might have been bleeding behind the placenta, which is much more common at a later age.

"Also, by the time the child is going to be 21, the mother is going to be 84."

Kovacs added that the birth sent the wrong message to older women who might be considering having a child.

"If you looked at 100 women who had babies in this situation, there wouldn't be many very happy stories," he said.

Source-AFP