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In search of real autonomy for fertility patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 June 2014

Josephine Johnston ,
Michael K. Gusmano  and
Pasquale Patrizio
Josephine Johnston*
Affiliation:
Director of Research & Research Scholar, The Hastings Center, Garrison, NY, USA
Michael K. Gusmano
Affiliation:
Research Scholar, The Hastings Center
Pasquale Patrizio
Affiliation:
Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Director, Yale Fertility Center, Yale School of Medicine, CT, USA
*
*Correspondence to: Josephine Johnston, LLB, MBHL, Director of Research & Research Scholar, The Hastings Center, 21 Malcolm Gordon Road, Garrison, NY 10524, USA. Email: johnstonj@thehastingscenter.org
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Abstract

Nearly one in eight infants in the United States is born preterm. A variety of factors are associated with preterm birth, including multiplicity. In the United States fertility treatments are currently associated with high rates of multiplicity, but these rates could be reduced significantly if changes can be made to fertility treatment policy and practice. These include reducing the financial pressure on patients to prioritize pregnancy chances over safety by expanding insurance coverage and altering the way we calculate success rates and insurance benefits so that two consecutive single embryo transfers is equivalent to one double embryo transfer.

Type
Perspective
Information
Health Economics, Policy and Law , Volume 10 , Issue 3 , July 2015 , pp. 243 - 250
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2014 

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