Guangdong Authority to Investigate Rare Octuplets Incident

• Author: CNTV

A rich Cantonese couple who had failed to have their own child after years of marriage had turned to in vitro fertilization and had successfully produced 8 embryos. These embryos were then implanted to the wife and 2 surrogate mothers. In September and October last year, the couple gave birth to octuplets, including 4 boys and 4 girls with helps from two surrogate mothers.

According to the Regulations of Assisted Reproductive Technology as amended in 2003, surrogacy is prohibited. Furthermore, in cases of multiple pregnancies, multifetal pregnancy reduction was to be conducted, and triplets or more than triplets are strictly prohibited. In practice, if IVF-ET is to be conducted, an Information Notice and Consent Document have to be signed by the couple, which helps the couple to familiarize themselves with assisted reproductive technology. The couple also needs to...