Doctor investigated by medical society over octuplets

A US national medical society is investigating whether a fertility doctor followed its guidelines when he implanted six embryos into a Southern California woman who gave birth to octuplets last month.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine confirmed it’s investigating because Nadya Suleman said she received in-vitro fertilisation for all 14 of her children at the same Beverly Hills fertility clinic.

Ms Suleman, 33, told NBC’s 'Today' show that she was implanted with six embryos in each of her six pregnancies, resulting in four single births, a set of twins and the octuplets.

No more than three embryos are considered the norm for a woman her age, and fertility experts and medical ethicists have been critical of the January 26 birth of the octuplets.

The society has contacted Ms Suleman and her doctor, and is prepared to assist the Medical Board of California, which is also looking into the pregnancy, the society’s president, Dr R Dale McClure, said in a statement.

“Our guidelines provide the flexibility to give each patient treatment individualised to her needs, and her best chance to become pregnant without risking high-order multiple pregnancy,” said Dr McClure. “However, it seems that the guidelines may not have been followed in Ms Suleman’s case.”

Neither the society or the medical board identified Ms Suleman’s physician, Dr Michael Kamrava.

Dr Kamrava, a specialist who pioneered a method of implantation, was identified as a result of an NBC interview with Ms Suleman, who said she went to the West Coast IVF Clinic in Beverly Hills and that all 14 of her children were conceived with help from the same doctor.

In 2006, Los Angeles TV station KTLA ran a story on infertility that showed Dr Kamrava, the centre’s director, treating Ms Suleman and discussing embryo implantation.