| In July 2010, the Government of the Canadian | | | | afford to cover the cost of IVF themselves "done |
| Province of Quebec announced it would begin to | | | | on the private". In fact, doctors will not be allowed to |
| offer free in vitro fertilizations (IVF) to its residents. | | | | take private patients for this method at all. |
| This was a startling announcement, given the high | | | | And here's where it all starts to turn into a murky |
| cost of IVF and the un-win-able debate that IVF is a | | | | morass of potential problems - |
| discretionary procedure not one that should be | | | | Quebec is apparently short of OB/GYN practitioners |
| covered by insurance even, let alone a | | | | as it is; estimates range from 60 - 70 doctors short |
| government-run health care system! IVF has become | | | | of what is generally thought to run an efficient |
| a well-accepted modern-day miracle and an answer | | | | system. There is already a long wait for services. |
| to many would-be parents' prayers. How then, could | | | | Citizens are concerned that if the private patients |
| the Quebec government be the recipient of anything | | | | migrate to faster hospitals in the US, for example, |
| other than heartfelt gratitude? | | | | the better doctors will likely follow them, |
| It helps to begin with motive. | | | | exacerbating the waits for service even longer. |
| The Quebec Government are said to intend to prop | | | | And why is a government getting into the |
| up a dwindling population, while at the same time | | | | baby-making business in the first place? Put the |
| save money. When asked how that could possibly | | | | religious aspect aside for a moment and ask with me, |
| be, they have claimed that because the cost of an | | | | what if Quebec - and other freezing parts of Canada |
| IVF procedure is so high, women will often ask for | | | | - should allow the free will of its residents to migrate |
| multiple fertilized eggs to be placed in utero at once. | | | | south to warmer climes? Maybe people shouldn't live |
| This results in multiple births that are "17 times" more | | | | in Quebec, certainly in the winter, any more than |
| likely to arrive pre-term and require caesarean | | | | perhaps they should live in a hurricane alley or a flood |
| deliveries - both of which call for extra care thus | | | | zone? |
| straining resources in an already stressed medical | | | | Migration is considered fine in the animal kingdom, and |
| system. The Government program will therefore | | | | used to be perfectly accepted in the human species. |
| allow one egg at a time. This sounds practical and | | | | Still is, if you consider the nomadic tribes and nations. |
| reasonable to this outsider, at least. | | | | Does Quebec have the right to force all of its |
| The program itself has Quebec paying for 3 cycles, | | | | taxpayers to promote population expansion? |
| of single eggs, giving priority to older women close to | | | | And maybe none of these issues matter? Certainly if |
| the end of their child-bearing years (despite statistics | | | | the cost of IVF were affordable for everyone, there |
| that show these women experience the lowest | | | | wouldn't be a need for any of these delicate debates |
| likelihood of success) and those with cancer. There | | | | in the first place. What should be the price to "play" |
| will be no fast-tracking for those couples who can | | | | God? |