Non-selective fetal reduction is malpractice.
Non-selective multifetal pregnancy reduction is carried out to reduce healthy higher order multiple fetuses to one or two fetuses. No studies exist to show any benefit of this practice and a Cochrane review, as well as investigators in the field, have not found any justification for such practice. From a medical point of view, this non evidence-based practice is not following good clinical practice. Any practice that transfers more than one or two embryos, for instance due to commercial interests, should be abandoned by the international medical community because multifetal pregnancies can, to a large extent, be avoided by transferring only one or a maximum of two fertilized eggs by in vitro fertilization. Further, ovarian stimulating programs should strictly adhere to protocols aiming at mono-ovulation.
Saugstad
Ola Didrik
OD
Department of Pediatric Research, Faculty Division, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, Norway. o.d.saugstad@medisin.uio.no
D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008318:Malpractice; D010500:Perinatology; D011247:Pregnancy; D018607:Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal / Q000941:ethics*; D016896:Treatment Outcome