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

[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.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

I dunno about the publicity. They seem to be very motivated to avoid it at every turn right now.

The hospital issued statements yesterday on how she can to be their patient as well - npr.org probably has the story as well on their site. They took her at three months gestation, counseled her and so on.

Making money? Shoot, they could be doing it RIGHT NOW - and aren't.

I don't understand the hostility. Are you jealous that she could...regardless of whether they are or not?

[moropus.livejournal.com]

No. I smell a rat. There's something very bizarre and unethical going on with this pregnancy. Something is wrong here, I just don't know what. Its a given that some of these kids will be handicapped for life, small as they were at delivery.

I still wonder if she's holding out for more money, but there are also media reports that she is mentally unstable. Who would implant all those embryos in an unstable woman who already has 6 kids and how can she take care of them? Its either money or she's afraid of something.

The best way to keep reporters hanging about is to tell them nothing. I know that from personal experience. Does keeping reporters hanging about keep her kids at a nice hospital instead of the county one?

And yes, the taxpayers are going to end up paying to raise these kids eventually. I'd venture to say each kid will end up with $2-3 mil in medical expenses before they go to school, nevermind diapers and food.