Originally Aired

Program 11, December 12, 2000

Ethics of Reproductive Technology

There's a different kind of baby boom going on in Canada.  Thanks to reproductive medicine, infertile couples are having triplets and quadruplets like never before.  But there's a downside to these miracle babies.  There are serious medical and emotional risks to multiple births.  And this has both doctors and ethicists calling for guidelines to manage this modern epidemic.

 

December 19

Polycistic Ovary Syndrome

Infertility on its own, is deeply painful. But on top of their inability to conceive, women with a syndrome known as PCOS have to cope with excess weight, hair in odd places and irregular periods.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is one of the leading causes of infertility in women, but few of us have heard of it.  As we discovered, a diagnosis might give these women an explanation for their symptoms, but they hope that by speaking out, the rest of us might understand their struggle.

 

December 19

Physician-Assisted Suicide

Who can forget the picture of Sue Rodriguez, stricken with Lou Gehrig's disease, barely able to breathe or talk, but fighting for her right to die.  In the end, Ms. Rodriguez got herphysician-assisted suicide, but not legally. 

Is it time for Canada to legalize euthanasia like they have in Holland and Oregon?  Moira McQueen says no.  She teaches medical ethics at the University of Toronto.  Cynthia St. John says physician-assisted suicide is already a reality.   She's a member of Dying With Dignity.