"Octomom" Doctor Expelled from ASRM

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) annual conference is in full swing, and some interesting news and highlights have already emerged. The 2009 conference, the largest reproductive medicine conference in the States, is taking place in Atlanta, Georgia through the 21st of October.

ASRM President R. Dale McClure, M.D. addressed the recent high-profile IVF incidents that have had a negative impact on the community. "Since our meeting last year in San Francisco, several highly publicized cases of controversial reproductive care have become apparent. Both our members and the general public have voiced concerns, and at times outrage." Three of the issues that he is referring to include: Nadya Suleman ("Octomom") and her controversial IVF treatment involving the birth of eight babies, a mix-up of frozen embryos that resulted in an Ohio woman giving birth to another woman's baby, and the mishandling of embryos from at least 100 couples resulting in switches and missing embryos.

Dr. McClure stressed that the ASRM practice guidelines are more important than ever. These guidelines are to help ASRM members "carry out safe and excelent care of patients."

ASRM membership was revoked for Dr. Michael Kamrava of the West Coast IVF Clinic in Beverly Hills. After a lengthy review, Dr. Kamrava was determined to have transferred higher than average numbers of embryos in many of his patients -- not just in Ms. Suleman's case -- and that his actions were well in excess of ASRM recommendations for safe and healthy treatment.