http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jun/13/ivf-malformation-risk-doctors-warn

Doctors should warn of IVF defect risk, says report

Geneticists feel that doctors should warn couples that want to try in vitro fertilisation (IVF) about the risk of malformation. This was said today after French scientists published their research into the malformation of IVF-children, showing that approximately 4% of these children has some sort of a malformation. The scientists say these malformations are the result of multiple factors, but age is not one of them. The parents of these malformed children are not older than the average parents. Therefore, the scientists decided more research is needed on several specific aspects of IVF, to explain the malformations.

My opinion:

I agree with the geneticists, I think it is vital to inform couples about such a risk before letting them enter the process of IVF. Even if the risk may seem rather small, it is something couples should be aware of and take into consideration when they decide whether or not to go for IVF. In my opinion it would be completely unethical for a medical professional to keep this information to him- or herself, but I also think it is important to research the exact cause of these malformations so they can possibly be prevented or be linked to specific features of the potential parents.