A word of caution.

[kyburg]

You're hearing left, right and center about those octuplets. And their six siblings at home.

Be very careful who you listen to for information.

The people who did the work ain't talking. And they won't. The fact the family (and I'm not talking about grandparents who are blabbing in their front yards and claiming huge houses somewhere and all that) haven't come forward to identify themselves should be a hint.

They don't want your help, they know they're pariahs and thank you very much this was their choice. They want it, they'll ask for it. Until then - MYOB.

You don't know - you won't know - until they tell you themselves. That's HIPAA, that's your privacy laws at work, and pay attention to who is being shown in the news reports. They're pretty heavy on pictures of the medical staff, and the hospital. They're the ones who want to talk. (And they are CHUFFED.)

Frankly, the greatest strain on that facility right now is the loss of subscriber base due to people losing their jobs right now (people lose their jobs, they lose coverage - simple). Not one family with eight children, who clearly have paid to play. (And have been paying family rates for some time - come on, think.)

Be aware, informed and don't let anyone rip you off and play you.

You don't know. And that's a perfectly good place to be in this matter.

Comments

[betnoir.livejournal.com]

Where I am (mildly) curious is:

a. if they had fertility treatment

b. did their OB fully inform them of the risks of multiples

c. if they were fully informed if they chose to go ahead

The only reason I am curious is because based on my experience dealing with OBs who offer fertility treatments, some of them see the parents as just a cash cow.

But fortunately, HIPPA prevents anybody save the parents and their doctors knowing for certain.

[vampireanneke.livejournal.com]

Your assuming they are paying for thier medical bills. I've heard that the lady applied for bankruptcy a year and a half ago.

[reannon.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU. Everyone is simply assuming these people must be on the public dime somehow and how dare they and why didn't she selectively abort and blah blah blah. I am trying so hard not to scream.

[eyelid.livejournal.com]

The fact the family (and I'm not talking about grandparents who are blabbing in their front yards and claiming huge houses somewhere and all that) haven't come forward to identify themselves should be a hint.

? the grandparents LIVE WITH the mother and are caring for all her children. How do they not count as "family"? There doesn't appear to BE any other family, other than the mom.

[lesliepear.livejournal.com]

I think there is some reason they haven't come out at all. And I guess their privacy should be respected.

But all I've heard of is 1 set of grandparents and the mother - no mention of the father at all.

I know there have people been people who've sucessfully raised 14 kids. But not with 8 of them having the same exact birthday!

[moropus.livejournal.com]

No hospital in the world will have the guts to throw out a case drawing this much attention, regardless of what they've done in the past and regardless of when the mother's insurance runs out.

The mere fact that they've been caught dumping patients on the street in the past will keep reporters watching. As long as reporters watch, they can't dump the kids or remove them to a hospital for poor people.

This woman can make money off the publicity generated by having a bazillion kids for a while at least. The fact that she hasn't said anything yet means paid exclusive and possilbly book and movie rights to me, but I'm wrong all the time. Ask anyone.

[vampireanneke.livejournal.com]

It just took time. Now she is trying to get money from the media for interviews.