Pete Shanks was raised in Britain but has lived in Santa Cruz, California, since Jerry Brown's first term as governor. He has worked with the Center for Genetics and Society on issues connected with human genetics and the assisted reproduction industry for over a decade. He is the author of Human Genetic Engineering (published by Nation Books) and writes regularly at Biopolitical Times, the blog of the Center for Genetics and Society.
The Medical Board of California has revoked the license of Dr. Michael Kamrava, effective July 1st. This is the doctor who became notorious after his patient, Nadya Suleman, gave birth to octuplets following fertility treatment.
Reproductive medicine has long been criticized for its commercial aspects — for being more like an industry than a medical practice. Run a Google search for “the baby business” and you will not only turn up Debora Spar’s book, but some 954,000 exact matches. Now lawyers are getting in on the action: It’s not just an industry, it’s (allegedly) a cartel!
Thai police recently announced that they had rescued 14 Vietnamese women, aged 19 to 26, from a criminal “baby breeding” ring.
